BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Authorities say at least seven jihadis accused of attacking the Malian military in the country's south have been arrested in neighboring Ivory Coast.

Modibo Naman Traore, a spokesman for the Malian special forces, said Thursday that the suspects had been hiding in the forests of northern Ivory Coast.

The men have been handed over to Malian authorities.

Malian authorities believe that the men are linked with the group Ansar Dine that used to rule portions of the north before a French-led military assault ousted them from power in 2013.

Islamic extremists, once limited to the northern half of Mali, have been launching attacks further and further south over the past year.