Sixty-four people died, including 49 civilians and 15 soldiers, in Mali due to a suicide attack that targeted a Malian army camp in Gao (north) on Friday, following two attacks attributed to "terrorists," the country's army reported.

The army stated in a brief message via social media that a "complex" attack occurred in the airport area, meaning it was carried out using various means, and the army did not provide any casualty figures for the attack, merely stating that "response and assessment are ongoing."

Details were sparse, but an airport employee reported that the attack involved two explosive-laden vehicles accompanied by gunfire as well, and confirmed that the airport was closed.

The attack came amid increasing pressure exerted by armed groups on the state in northern Mali for weeks, raising concerns about escalating violence.

At least 64 people, including 49 civilians and 15 soldiers, were killed on Thursday in two separate "terrorist" attacks claimed by Al-Qaeda, one targeting a "Timbuktu boat" on the Niger River, and the other a military site in Bamba in the Gao region of northern Mali.

The group Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the Bamba attack, according to the U.S. NGO "SITE" specializing in monitoring extremist groups.

For its part, the government said in its statement that the group Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin claimed both attacks, noting that the attack on the boat also caused "material damage injuries." The army's response managed to "neutralize about fifty terrorists," according to the same source.