The militants lost more than 1,000 soldiers and 100 vehicles while attacking Bamako and other cities, the Africa Corps has said<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s Africa Corps has released several videos of devastating air and artillery strikes on terrorist columns in Mali after the militants launched one of the largest coordinated attacks ever across the country. The unit added that the attack, which it said involved Western and Ukrainian mercenaries, was aimed at a coup d\u2019etat in the West African country.
\nThe footage released by the unit \u2013 which operates under the purview of the Russian Defense Ministry \u2013 offers a rare visual account of the fighting which erupted on Saturday when Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM and the Tuareg-dominated Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched almost simultaneous strikes on Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal, and Sevare.
\nOne video shows a column of trucks driving along an open road before coming under what appears to be artillery or drone-delivered fire.<\/p>\n
In the second, a dispersed group of apparent militants is seen running alongside moving vehicles in an urban area when two or three strikes land in their midst.<\/p>\n
The third video shows the bombardment of a small column of fast-moving light buggies.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Africa Corps said it essentially helped prevent a coup d\u2019etat, as they held positions along the 2,000-km front line. It added that it provided air support, which it said prevented the seizure of key facilities, including the presidential palace in Bamako. According to the unit, militant casualties exceeded 1,000 \u2013 including an estimated 200 in Bamako, 500 in Gao, 300 in Kati, and 200 in Kidal \u2013 along with more than 100 vehicles destroyed.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Moscow warns of Western involvement in Mali terrorist raid (PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
The corps estimated the terrorist forces at 10,000 to 12,000, and said the assault was supported by Ukrainian and European mercenaries, adding that they deployed Western-made man-portable air-defense systems, including US-manufactured Stingers and French-made Mistrals.
\nThe Africa Corps said some of its personnel sustained injuries and were being evacuated, while describing the situation in Mali as tense.
\nThe Russian Foreign Ministry said \u201cpreliminary data\u201d points to the possible involvement of Western security services in training the attackers. Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused France of \u201cattempting to overthrow undesirable nationalist governments\u201d in the Sahara-Sahel using \u201coutright terrorist groups\u201d and \u201ccolonial methods.\u201d
\nThe Africa Corps was established in 2023 and has since operated in Mali, the Central African Republic, and other states, with a mandate including counter-terrorism, training local forces, and securing strategic sites.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The militants lost more than 1,000 soldiers and 100 vehicles while attacking Bamako and other cities, the Africa Corps has said Russia\u2019s Africa Corps has released several videos of devastating…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34108,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t