Benin's military says that militants inflicted heavy losses on the country's armed forces during an attack this week on a fortified military post in the north

Twenty-eight soldiers were killed in an attack in northern Benin, a security source told AFP on Thursday, as violence blamed on jihadists based in neighbouring countries increases.

Benin's armed forces suffered severe losses after an Islamist militant attack in the north. A well-equipped military position was targeted, resulting in significant casualties. The main opposition party reported around 30 soldiers killed in Alibori.

We have battles to win." Benin and coastal neighbour Togo have both suffered attacks in recent years as groups linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda expanded their presence beyond West Africa's central Sahel region to the north.