At least 54 people have been killed in one of the deadliest attacks on soldiers in Mali in a decade.
The Malian army was targeted in the attack on a military post in the Menaka region near the border with Niger yesterday.
The Government said at least 53 soldiers and one civilian are understood to have died.
It is the second major assault on soldiers in a month, and one of the deadliest in the last decade.
Malian communications minister Yaya Sangare said identification of the bodies is now underway.
He said "significant material damage" had also been caused.
À la suite de l’attaque de la position des FAMa à Indelimane,les renforts dépêchés ont retrouvé 54 corps dont 1 civil,10 rescapés & constaté des dégâts matériels importants. La situation est sous contrôle.Le ratissage & le processus d’identification des corps se poursuivent.
— Yaya Sangare (@YayaBSangare) November 2, 2019
He later told the Associated Press: "Reinforcements have been sent to the scene and the situation is under control with the support of the French military, which is helping to evacuate the wounded."
Ten people are believed to have survived.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
The troubled West Africa border has been plagued by violence since al Qaeda-linked fighters took control of the north of the country in 2012.
They were successfully pushed back in a French-led military campaign a year later, but attacks are now on the rise.
Soldiers are struggling to contain the regrouped jihadists, who are moving from the north of the country into new areas.
