Military sources reported the fall in combat of 40 suspected terrorists and 34 soldiers and volunteers, in a confrontation with armed men who attacked the escort of a fuel transport caravan.

The fighting was described by the army as very violent and left significant losses despite the energetic response of the units. In addition to those killed, more than twenty wounded were taken to hospitals.

Since 2015, Burkina Faso and other African countries such as Mali and Niger have been suffering from violent actions of the extremist entities, Islamic State in the Sahel and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, affiliated to Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

The violence unleashed in this territory, by such irregular formations, for more than 12 years has caused some 10,500 deaths and around two million displaced persons, according to data from non-governmental organizations.

jrr/arm/mem/fv