Insurgents killed 25 civilians and injured 13 others in an ambush of a military-escorted convoy near Mali's northeastern city of Gao on Friday, the army said late on Saturday.

More than 50 people were killed near Mali's northeastern city of Gao on Friday after armed assailants ambushed their convoy and its army escort, a local official and residents said.

Gunmen attacked a convoy escorted by Mali's army, resulting in the death of 25 civilians, including gold miners. The assault occurred near Gao, northeastern Mali, where hostile armed groups are active.

The attackers struck near the village of Kobe, around 30 km (19 miles) from Gao in a region where affiliates of Islamic State and Al Qaeda have been active for over a decade, destabilising Mali and its neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger.

At least 50 people were killed near the northeastern city of Gao in Mali after armed assailants ambushed their convoy and its army escort. The attackers

In Mali's northeastern region near Gao, insurgents ambushed a military-escorted convoy, killing 25 civilians and injuring 13. The attackers, linked to Islamic State and Al Qaeda, struck near Kobe village.

Jihadists are suspected of leading a massacre in northern Mali. The attackers operated with the intent of causing maximum casualties, according to witnesses. The latest reports indicate more than 50 victims of this attack.