Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and eight others injured in an attack on a United Nations base in Abyei, the Bangladesh Army said, as security conditions in the disputed region remain unstable.

The Bangladesh Army said the attack targeted a UN base in Abyei, a volatile territory claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan. In a statement released on Saturday, the army said clashes with armed groups were ongoing and the situation on the ground remained tense.

Authorities said efforts were underway to provide medical treatment to the wounded and to conduct rescue operations despite difficult security conditions. No immediate details were released about the identity of the attackers or how the assault was carried out.

Bangladeshi troops are deployed in Abyei as part of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, which was established to monitor security and reduce tensions in the disputed area. The region has seen repeated violence despite a long-standing UN presence.

Bangladesh is one of the leading troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions, with 5,619 peacekeepers currently deployed across 10 countries and locations worldwide. Its forces have played a long-standing role in high-risk missions, including in Abyei, where they have been stationed for years.

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