OUAGADOUGOU, June 27 (Reuters) - Unidentified assailants on Monday killed 31 soldiers and three members of the Homeland Defence Volunteers (VDP) in an ambush on a supply convoy in the Bam province in the country's Central-North region, Burkina Faso's army said. Burkina Faso has been battling Islamist militants active in northern regions, some with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State, since 2015. The fighting was particularly fierce and resulted in heavy casualties, the army said, adding that around 20 injured were evacuated to health facilities. It added that more than 40 assailants were killed. Reporting by Thiam Ndiaga; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 27, 2023 19:36 UTC