Islamic State (IS) militants attend a surrender ceremony in Jalalabad city, capital of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 17, 2019. More than 600 Islamic State (IS) fighters and their families including women and children have surrendered to security forces in Achin district of eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province over the past two weeks amid increasing military operations, an army commander in the restive district General Mohammad Karim Niazi said. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Militant group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack in northern Mozambique just south of the site where gas projects worth $60 billion are being developed by the likes of Exxon Mobil and Total.

Insurgents attacked the town of Mocimboa da Praia on Monday, briefly occupying some areas and its local army barracks before being pushed out on Tuesday, Mozambique authorities and security analysts said.

Islamic State claimed the attack through its Amaq news agency, which said dozens of soldiers and police officers had been killed or injured.

Government spokesman Filimao Suaze said the retreating attackers had left a "trail of destruction and dead bodies," and that security had been beefed up in the area.

While Islamic State has claimed a spate of recent attacks in the northernmost province of Cabo Delgado, home to gas developments following one of the biggest gas finds in a decade off its coast, Tuesday's claim of responsibility is the first matched by rare official confirmation of an attack.

The government does not acknowledge such claims, however.

Mocimboa da Praia, 60 kilometers south of the gas projects, previously served as the main airport for international workers and its port is used for cargo deliveries.

Exxon and Total did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment sent outside usual business hours.

NGOs say the government must do more to protect the mostly poor civilians in the area and step up transparency.

Reuters