REYNOSA, Mex. – At least 12 people are dead after gun battles between rival drug gangs in Reynosa.

Reynosa city officials issued the highest alert level and asked residents to stay off the streets on Friday.

Officials said the confrontations left seven people dead on Tuesday and five on Thursday.

The dispute between the rival factions of the gulf cartel come after the group’s leader, Julian Loisa Salinas, was killed by military personnel last month.

Since then, cartel gunmen have burned vehicles, blocked roads, attacked military patrol and fought gun battles on city streets.