ANKARA

Turkey on Tuesday strongly condemned a terrorist attack in northern Burkina Faso that left dozens of people dead.

"We are saddened by the news that 28 gendarmerie personnel and 4 civilians lost their lives and many people were injured in a terrorist attack in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso on 14 November," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Strongly condemning the "heinous terrorist attack," the statement said: "We extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, friendly and brotherly people and Government of Burkina Faso and wish a speedy recovery to the injured."

The death toll from a terrorist attack targeting the army in Burkina Faso's northern Sahel region rose to 32 on Monday.

Al-Qaeda and Daesh/ISIS-linked terrorist groups in neighboring Mali have been carrying out frequent attacks in the north and east of Burkina Faso since 2015.

Though Burkina Faso carries out joint military operations with its neighbor Niger, it has been unable to eliminate terrorist groups based in Mali.

According to data from the UN, more than 17,500 people had to leave the country for security reasons this year.