Six United Nations peacekeepers from Bangladesh were killed on Saturday in a drone strike on Sudan's southern Kordofan region, the mission said, confirming earlier reports.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) said "six troops were killed and six injured" when a drone struck their camp in Kadugli, capital of South Kordofan state, adding that all the victims are from Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" by the attack, while the foreign ministry "strongly condemned" it, putting the toll at six dead and eight wounded.