At least 40 rebel fighters have been killed at a Niger/Burkina Faso border in a military operation by the French military.

A recently released statement after the attack on Thursday shared that the French military was profoundly pleased with the successful operation, calling it a “new tactical success” for France’s counterterrorism efforts in Africa’s Sahel region, named Operation Barkhane.

The report shared that gunned-down rebel fighters were sighted travelling on motorcycles and with intelligence gotten from the Nigerian military, the Barkhane force conducted several strikes against the rebels.

Niger’s government also issued a statement saying the fighters were killed after an attack earlier this week and killed eight security forces in southwestern Niger.

Niger has become a more reliable ally after military coups overthrew the democratically elected presidents of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso over the last two years.

“Our military commitment in the Sahel-Sahara area to fight terrorism, along with our African partners in total,” Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Twitter.

Earlier this year, France announced it was withdrawing all its forces from Mali nine years after the French military led an effort that ousted armed groups from Timbuktu and other centres in northern Mali.