11 soldiers killed in attack in Burkina Faso

By Fatma Esma Arslan

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - Eleven soldiers were killed in an attack in eastern Burkina Faso, the army announced Thursday.

The military headquarters in the Madjoari department of Kompienga province in eastern Burkina Faso was directly targeted by artillery and gunfire, according to the army statement.

Twenty soldiers were injured in the attack.

Following the attack, 15 terrorists who tried to escape were neutralized in an air operation.

Northern Burkina Faso has witnessed terrorist attacks since 2015, in which more than 1,000 people have been killed and over 1 million displaced, according to official data.

The West African country has been ruled by a military junta since January following a coup that ousted President Roch Marc Kabore.

Junta leader Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has declared security as one of his priorities, but a surge in deadly attacks has been reported in recent weeks.