At least 15 soldiers have been killed in an attack by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists on a military base in northern Benin.

The raid occurred on Wednesday at a base in Kofouno near the Niger border and was claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating across the Sahel.

Beninese army spokesman Colonel James Johnson said five soldiers were also wounded but were not in critical condition. He added that military aircraft killed at least four militants as they withdrew, while security forces launched operations to track down the attackers.

Local security sources said the base was looted and set on fire during the assault.

The attack highlights the growing spread of jihadist violence from the Sahel into coastal West African countries such as Benin and Togo. Benin suffered a particularly deadly year in 2025, including an April attack by JNIM that killed 54 soldiers.

The government previously deployed a 3,000-troop force to secure its northern borders and later recruited 5,000 additional troops to reinforce security in the region.