Mali Army Reports Killing 80 Fighters After Coordinated Al-Qaeda Linked Attacks

Mali Army Reports Killing 80 Fighters After Coordinated Al-Qaeda Linked Attacks
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Mali’s armed forces announced they killed 80 fighters following a series of coordinated attacks on military posts across seven towns in the country’s central and western regions, Al Jazeera reported. The assaults, claimed by the al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), involved simultaneous strikes on multiple military positions, including three barracks.

JNIM described the attacks as “coordinated and high-quality,” claiming control over several military sites. The army’s spokesperson, Souleymane Dembele, confirmed significant losses inflicted on the attackers in all locations, showing footage of fallen rebels and seized weapons.

The towns targeted include Diboli near the Senegal border, Kayes and Sandere in the west, Nioro du Sahel and Gogoui northwest of the capital Bamako near Mauritania, and Molodo and Niono in central Mali. Residents reported intense gunfire and shelling, with some witnessing smoke near government buildings.

Mali has been battling violent Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS for over a decade, alongside ongoing Tuareg rebellions in the north. The recent attacks resemble previous JNIM operations in Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso, underscoring persistent insecurity despite military efforts.