BAMAKO, Mali 

At least 15 members of the Benin Armed Forces were killed and four wounded in an attack by armed men in Kofouno, the army said Thursday.

Army spokesperson Col. James Johnson confirmed the provisional toll from Wednesday’s assault.

The four wounded soldiers received medical care and their lives are not in danger.

After the attack, a column of armed men reportedly attempted to withdraw from the combat zone. They were spotted and targeted by military aircraft, which neutralized four fighters.

“The intervention of our aircraft made it possible to neutralize four combatants,” Johnson said, adding that military operations were underway to prevent the attackers from fleeing and to secure the area following the assault.

At the time the provisional toll was communicated, Beninese forces were continuing control operations in the area.

Northern Benin, particularly border areas, has experienced growing security pressure in recent years due to incursions by armed groups. Authorities have increased military deployments and surveillance operations in these zones in response to attacks targeting security forces and border communities.