Bogota, April 30 (QNA) - At least nine Colombian soldiers were killed when a military helicopter they were traveling in crashed.

The Colombian army said in a statement that an MI-17 military helicopter, carrying nine soldiers, crashed near the town of Arenal del Sur in Bolivar province, in the north of the country, killing the nine soldiers who were on board.

"I regret the death of the nine passengers on board the army's helicopter... It was supplying troops that were conducting operations against the Gulf Clan", Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on X platform.

The Gulf Clan is one of the most powerful criminal organization in Colombia.

The gang recruits its members primarily from former right-wing paramilitary, and is thought to have around 6,000 militants.

Former head of the gang, Dairo Antonio Usuga, commonly known as Otoniel, was sentenced to 45 years in prison in the US last year. (QNA)