UN base in Kidal struck by suspected Islamist militants

Three UN peacekeepers and 30 others were injured on Friday following an attack of a base in Kidal, northern Mali.

The militants attacked the camp in the early hours of the morning, according to Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the Mali representative of the U.N. secretary general, in a statement.

Earlier reports pegged the deaths at two with seven of the injured in a critical condition.

“We returned fire but two peacekeepers were killed and 30 others wounded. The terrorists attacked with rockets. There was at least two hours of exchange of fire,” a source said.

Confirming the news, a Guinean military of Minusma told AFP that the peacekeepers killed belonged to the UN wing.

Although a French-led intervention force managed to drive Islamic militants out of key points on northern Mali, the region continues to be subjected to repeated attacks since 2012.