More than 50 soldiers were reportedly killed in a suspected terrorist attack in northern Burkina Faso, according to the country’s army.
In a statement, the military confirmed that 51 bodies had been discovered, while some soldiers were still missing and three wounded personnel had been evacuated.
Initially, the army had reported eight casualties on Monday, which it described as a result of intense fighting in Oudalan province.
The army claims to have eliminated over 100 assailants, although independent verification of this number is yet to be provided.
This year, the northern part of Burkina Faso has witnessed an escalation in violence, with over 100 fatalities reported in the first six weeks.
The continued violence prompted two coups last year and led to the French military mission in the country ending.
This latest incident coincides with France officially concluding its military operations in Burkina Faso, where French troops have been stationed since 2015 to assist in fighting militants.