Suspected militant insurgents have killed eight soldiers in northern Benin, according to military sources speaking to AFP on Friday.
The troubled region has experienced a worrying surge in deadly militant attacks in recent months.
Benin’s government frequently attributes these assaults to militants aiming to spread their influence from neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
The latest deadly offensive struck two military outposts within Benin’s W national park on Thursday.
Tragically, the attack resulted in the deaths of eight soldiers and left thirteen others wounded. Military sources also reported that eleven “terrorists” were killed during the intense fighting.
The targeted outposts were part of the Mirador anti-militant operation, situated near Koudou Falls in Benin’s border region with Niger and Burkina Faso.
Following the attack, the wounded soldiers were promptly evacuated to hospitals for necessary medical treatment.
An army source confirmed that the Beninese military is actively sweeping the affected zone to neutralize any remaining enemy presence.
While the southern economic hub of Cotonou remains a draw for international tourists, the poorer north of Benin has become increasingly plagued by such attacks in recent years.
Beninese authorities believe the escalating violence is a spillover effect from militant activities in Burkina Faso and Niger.
For over a decade, these neighboring countries have been embroiled in conflict with groups affiliated with the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda.
The border area where Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger converge has become a known epicenter of militant activity.