Africa-Press. The Malian military announced the execution of a series of airstrikes against the hideouts of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in the west of the country, confirming the death of at least 25 terrorists and the destruction of bases, vehicles, and logistical equipment.
Meanwhile, the group “Support for Islam and Muslims,” affiliated with Al-Qaeda, announced the death of eight Russian soldiers in a bombing attack in the north of the country.
This military escalation follows weeks of extensive attacks launched by Tuareg rebels and Al-Qaeda terrorists in late April, which resulted in the capture of the strategic city of Kidal and the assassination of Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Kamara, in a blow considered the harshest to the ruling military council since it came to power.
The Malian military stated in a press release from the General Staff that it carried out a series of successful airstrikes targeting three bases belonging to armed groups in the west of the Didiéni area, following several days of surveillance and tracking.
The first strike targeted a base located about forty kilometers west of Didiéni, resulting in the death of at least 15 militants, along with the destruction of several vehicles used for rapid movement.
The second strike targeted another base in the same area, where the military reported the death of ten additional elements and the destruction of logistical equipment, including tents and solar panels used to support the movements of armed groups.
The statement indicated that the third strike targeted a base approximately 40 kilometers west of Didiéni, resulting in the destruction of five four-wheel-drive vehicles hidden under trees, in addition to neutralizing several armed elements.
The military confirmed that the operations were carried out after a precise phase of monitoring and confirming the nature of the targets, noting that the airstrikes were part of a broader strategy to pursue armed groups in the western and central regions of the country.
In a notable development, the Malian military launched intensive airstrikes on the city of Kidal, in the far northeast of the country, for the first time since it fell into the hands of the rebels at the end of April.
Kidal is one of the most important cities in northern Mali, due to its strategic location and historical role in the recurring Tuareg rebellions against the central governments in Bamako.
According to press reports from local sources and eyewitnesses, at least four airstrikes were carried out during the night of Wednesday and Thursday, causing significant material damage within the city.
Reports indicated that one of the strikes targeted the governor’s headquarters, creating a large crater in its courtyard, while another strike destroyed a house near the old market.
In contrast, the group “Support for Islam and Muslims” announced an attack against a joint military convoy of the Malian army and the Russian “African Legion” in the Timbuktu region in the north of the country.
The group claimed in a statement circulated on platforms monitoring terrorist activities via X that the attack occurred near the village of Tihirgui west of the city of Bér, resulting in “the death of 8 Russian soldiers and the complete destruction of their vehicle.”
The group published photos it claimed were of the remains of the targeted vehicle and traces of blood at the explosion site.
Mali witnessed coordinated attacks on military and strategic sites belonging to the ruling military council in the capital Bamako and other areas of the country on April 25 and 26.
During those attacks, Defense Minister Sadio Kamara was killed in a suicide operation targeting his residence in the military city of Kati, northwest of the capital, and the head of military intelligence was also killed.
The attacks also included Mali International Airport and several military barracks, while the rebels managed to seize Kidal after the withdrawal of government forces and elements of the Russian “African Legion” from the city.
According to local and international reports, the Russian withdrawal came after negotiations with the Tuareg rebels that allowed the Russian forces to exit the city without fighting, while hundreds of Malian soldiers were captured.
In parallel with the military operations, Bamako is diplomatically moving to rally regional and international support in response to the crisis.
Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop held consultations with the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, attended by representatives from Burkina Faso and Niger as part of security coordination among the Sahel triad.
Mali confirmed during the meetings that the recent attacks represent a direct threat to the stability of the entire region, calling for “practical African solidarity” to confront the expansion of armed groups.
This comes despite the continued suspension of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger’s membership in the African Union following the military coups that occurred in those countries in recent years.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, recently warned that the Sahel region is facing a worsening humanitarian and security crisis, characterized by rising violence against civilians, increased displacement, and worsening food insecurity. Guterres called for enhanced dialogue and regional cooperation to confront “violent extremism and terrorism.”
