13 Soldiers Killed in Burkina Faso Ambush

Thirteen soldiers were killed as a military unit engaged in an ambush by unidentified gunmen near Natiaboani in the Eastern region of Burkina Faso.

The country's armed forces said on Monday eight other soldiers were injured during the fighting, adding that the unit managed to extricate itself from the ambush by neutralizing several of the attackers.

Security in Burkina Faso has worsened since 2015, as terrorist attacks killed more than 1,000 people and displacing over 1 million others in the West African nation.

Last month, the French army announced killing 40 militants in Burkina Faso during a joint operation with Burkinabe armed forces.

The armed “terrorist group” was responsible for two attacks in neighboring Benin, according to a statement posted on Twitter.

An armed group operating in the area of the W National Park led attacks on members of Benin’s armed forces. Nine people were killed, including five park rangers and a French national.