Mexico City (CNN) A bloody, prolonged shootout between Mexican security forces and suspected cartel members in Sinaloa state this week was an intentional — and ultimately abandoned — attempt to capture a son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman for extradition to the United States, Mexican officials now say.

Troops did temporarily detain Ovidio Guzman Lopez during Thursday's operation in the city of Culiacan, officials said. But as the battle dragged on, he was released and the operation was suspended to save lives, the country's defense secretary and security minister said Friday.

The battle, which sent families hiding in terror for hours, left seven people dead: Five "aggressors," one Mexican National Guard member, and one civilian, Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said on Twitter.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged Friday that security forces went to Culiacan to capture the son on a judge's order. Mexico's Security Cabinet eventually suspended the operation "to protect the lives of the people," he said.

He did not deny, when pressed by reporters, that Ovidio Guzman Lopez was released.