In a third major assault in the last few weeks, terrorists have launched simultaneous attacks on military bases across different towns in Mali. A statement from the army of the West African country disclosed that it repelled some attacks on Tuesday morning.
According to the statement, the Malian army disclosed that it had neutralized more than 80 militants. However, the military failed to reveal if it suffered any casualties from the attacks.
The army spokesperson, Souleymane Dembele while speaking on Mali’s national TV said the terrorists suffered heavy damages in every location where they fought against the defence forces. More so, Col Dembele stated that the army retrieved weapons, vehicles, and motorcycles from the terrorists.
Before then, the Malian army revealed that the group had attacked seven towns and cities in the country. These include Binoli, Kayes, Sandare, and other attacks in the North where Mali shares a border with Mauritania.
JNIM claims responsibility for the recent attacks in Mali
Meanwhile, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a jihadist group linked with al-Qaeda had admitted to being behind the attacks. The jihadist fighters declared that about three army barracks are under their control.
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JNIM, in a statement on social media, said the attacks were “coordinated and high quality.” Also, in the disclosure, the jihadist group failed to give details on casualties.
Furthermore, JNIM mentioned that it orchestrated two recent attacks. It is worth noting that on June 2, the group attacked an army base and airport in Timbuktu.
The following day, the militants also carried out a raid, killing about 30 soldiers. These attacks underline the growing insecurity in Mali and the Sahel region at large.
In the last ten years, Mali has endured various attacks by Islamist insurgency, including havoc from separatist movements.
