28 soldiers were reportedly killed on Wednesday evening in an ambush near the country’s northern border with Burkina Faso, a region plagued by jihadist insurgencies.
The attack, attributed to militants linked to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, highlights the growing instability in the Sahel region.
A military source confirmed that ongoing “clean-up operations” have neutralized 40 assailants in response to the attack.
Northern Benin, which shares porous borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, has increasingly become a target for cross-border incursions.
The region has seen escalating violence, with 121 military personnel reported killed since 2021.
Efforts to bolster security have intensified, with Benin deploying 3,000 troops as part of Operation Mirador and recruiting an additional 5,000 personnel to protect its borders.
International allies, including the United States and the European Union, have also provided significant support, contributing armoured vehicles and anti-terror funding to aid the fight against insurgency.