NUEVO LAREDO, Tamaulipas – The state government of Tamaulipas is waiting for federal support following their request for aid from the Mexican president.

Since Tuesday, many residents are living in fear following the violence that erupted in the city.

The clashes were targeted attacks against the state police and the special ops team known as CAIET, Centro de Análisis, Información y Estudios de Tamaulipas.

They focus on gathering intelligence and receive special training.

The director of the team, Felix Arturo Rodriguez, says Tuesday was far from a normal day in Tamaulipas.

"This wasn't something typical here. I don't know what daily operations are like, but these kind of confrontations were not part of it,” said Rodriguez.

Tuesday afternoon, CAIET was investigating the fatal cartel attack from the previous week which left one state police officer dead.

"We were trying to locate certain addresses when we were attacked," explained Rodriguez.

Five vehicles loaded with cartel members and heavy artillery faced off with the team.

All that was left was the bodies of the seven men travelling in a trucks part of the cartel convoy. That was only the first incident.

"The rest of the trucks fled but they were the same ones that attacked us that same night,"' says Rodriguez.

That night, four different shootings broke out throughout the city.

Two members of CAIET were injured, but five men belonging to the criminal organization were killed by the end of the night, bringing the total to 12.

The injured special operation team members are already back on the force, but the numbers could be worse for a team their size.

"Obviously, we don't have the number of police to match what they have on the other side, but I trust in the capacity and training my team has received," he says.

The governor of Tamaulipas was prompted to request more federal presence from the president.

A compromise was reached following a meeting between the state and federal government on Wednesday.

"What is clear is that there will be more communication and coordination within the obligations and responsibilities that each one of us has to be able to secure peace and order," declares Tamaulipas Governor Francisco Cabeza de Vaca.

The federal government agreed to increase their law enforcement presence in the northern border state, but they failed to provide a timeline or the number of people they will send.

For now, the state will continue fighting to protect residents.

They hope Tuesday's violence was not an indication of an upward trend.

"This was something not directed at the public. It was directed at us," clarifies CAIET Director Rodriguez.

They will remain vigilant and hope it's contained.