The UN stabilization mission in Mali says its forces were attacked twice on Sunday as it mounted a hasty operation to pull peacekeepers from the town of Ber in the country's north.
"The MINUSMA convoy that withdrew from Ber today was attacked twice. 3 wounded peacekeepers were evacuated to Timbuktu for medical attention," the mission said on social media.
The attack came just hours after MINUSMA announced that it would expedite the withdrawal of UN troops from the western African country due to the worsening security situation.
"The MINUSMA has expedited its withdrawal from Ber due to the deteriorating security situation in the area and the high risks posed to our Blue Helmets," it said.
The UN mission urged all parties concerned to refrain from any actions that could complicate the operation and warned the attackers that an assault on peacekeepers "may constitute war crimes under international law."