BAMAKO, Mali — Authorities say a U.N. peacekeeper from Chad has been killed and another wounded in northern Mali.

A statement from the U.N. mission said that the attack early Saturday targeted a checkpoint about a kilometer (less than a mile) from the U.N. peacekeeping base in Kidal.

A second suicide vehicle was detonated at one of the entrances to the base though no U.N. forces were hurt but several mortar rounds were fired at the base.

A French-led military operation ousted al-Qaida allies and other jihadists from power in northern Mali about two years ago but the extremists have staged a growing number of attacks in recent months.

The resurgence of violence has killed about two dozen U.N. peacekeepers.