Nine members of Colombia's military tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash that occurred in a rural area of northern Colombia.

The helicopter crashed in northern Colombia on Monday, resulting in the tragic loss of all nine soldiers aboard, as confirmed by the country's armed forces.

The incident occurred while the helicopter was delivering supplies to soldiers in the municipality of Santa Rosa del Sur. This area has recently seen clashes between the National Liberation Army guerrilla group and the Gulf Clan, a notorious drug trafficking organization, according to a statement from the Colombian military.

The MI-17 Russian-built helicopter went down around 1:50 p.m. local time, described by the army as an accident.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences, stating, "I regret the death of the nine passengers on board the army's helicopter." He noted that the helicopter was providing support to troops engaged in operations against the Gulf Clan.

The Gulf Clan stands as one of the most formidable criminal syndicates in Colombia, believed to command approximately 6,000 armed members. Apart from its prominence in illicit activities, including illegal mining and extortion, the organization has been linked to numerous cases of homicide and property seizures.

Formerly led by Dairo Antonio Usuga, widely recognized as Otoniel, the cartel's former head, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison in the United States last year.