Burkina Faso’s armed forces said Thursday they had killed 11 “terrorists” during an operation in the country’s jihadist-plagued north after a recent surge in attacks.
The ground and air operation was launched “in the forest of Bangao and in the areas of Tasmakat, Fourkoussou and Bidy in Oudalan province on February 23 and 24,” the armed forces in a statement.
“The toll was 11 terrorists neutralized and one captured,” the statement said, adding that there were no military losses.
The military also seized weapons, ammunition, and transport and communications equipment.
“Following recent recurring attacks against the civilian population in Oudalan province, the national armed forces planned and carried out search operations to find the terrorists and secure the population,” the statement added.
Nine civilians were killed and nine more wounded in an attack on a convoy of vehicles traveling in Oudalan province on February 18.
Two women were killed by an improvised bomb in Yagha province on Tuesday.
Burkina Faso, one of the world’s poorest countries, is struggling with a jihadist insurgency that began in neighboring Mali in 2012 and spread into its territory in 2015.
More than 1,200 people have died and a million have fled their homes.