It confirmed the "neutralisation of four terrorists in the Niono zone" in the centre of the country, as well as the elimination of "three armed terrorist groups" in the Baoule forest and "15 terrorists" in the Manfoune, Vanekui and Mandiakui sectors.

AFP was not able to verify the death toll given by the Malian army, whose statement issued late Thursday did not announce any losses among its ranks.

The number is in addition to 203 fighters the military said it had killed in a "large-scale" operation in the Moura region in March.

Witnesses interviewed by media and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have spoken of a large-scale massacre of civilians in Moura. HRW has said 300 were killed by Malian soldiers and foreign fighters.

Ruled by a military junta since August 2020, Mali has been in turmoil since 2012.

Jihadist attacks have spread from the north to the centre of the country and into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

The UN mission in Mali, MINUSMA, says nearly 600 civilians were killed in 2021 in violence blamed mainly on jihadist groups, but also on vigilante groups and the armed forces.

Mali's military judiciary on Wednesday announced the opening of an investigation into the recent events in Moura.