At least 26 assailants were neutralized after a coordinated assault targeted military positions across Mali, the African nation\u2019s army has said<\/p>\n
Malian forces backed by Russia\u2019s Africa Corps have repelled a coordinated terrorist assault on several locations across the West African nation, killing at least 26 militants, the army has said.
\nIn an initial statement on Saturday, the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) said armed groups had targeted military positions in Aguel-Hoc, Anefis, Gao, Sevare, and Kenioroba. It later said all the attacks had been \u201cvigorously repelled\u201d and that the situation was \u201ctotally under control.\u201d
\nThe statement came after Azawad Liberation Front spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane wrote on Facebook that the separatist group had launched an offensive to take control of the town of Anefis in northern Mali.
\nAccording to the provisional toll, \u201c20 terrorists on motorcycles and in equipped vehicles were neutralized\u201d in Sevare. In Gao, one soldier was killed and four others wounded, while six terrorists were neutralized and one vehicle destroyed, the army said.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Mali leader takes over Defense Ministry after deadly attacks<\/p>\n
In a separate communique, FAMa said troops, \u201cin collaboration with their strategic partner from Africa Corps,\u201d pushed back simultaneous assaults targeting Konna and Somadougou.
\n\u201cThe human and material toll of these two coordinated operations is particularly heavy in the ranks of the enemy,\u201d the army stated.
\nAfrican Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf condemned the July 4 attacks, describing them as \u201ca stark reminder that terrorism and violent extremism continue to pose a serious threat to Mali, the Sahel, and the African continent as a whole.\u201d
\nHe extended condolences to the families of those killed and reaffirmed the AU\u2019s support for efforts to combat terrorism and restore stability across the Sahel.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
France is plotting revenge on its former colonies<\/p>\n
Mali has battled a jihadist insurgency since 2012, a crisis that has spilled into neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. The three military-led states have severed defense ties with France, expelled French troops, and repeatedly accused Paris of sponsoring terrorism in the Sahel. They have since turned to Russia for security support.
\nIn April, coordinated strikes hit multiple locations in Mali, including military sites and infrastructure in Bamako and Kati. Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence, prompting the country\u2019s transitional leader Assimi Goita to assume direct control of the republic\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Russian forces pound Western-backed terrorists in Mali (VIDEOS)<\/p>\n
The Africa Corps, a Russian Defense Ministry unit deployed in Mali, provided air support to help Malian forces prevent the militants from seizing key sites, including the presidential palace in Bamako, officials said. More than 200 terrorists were killed during the fighting, according to FAMa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At least 26 assailants were neutralized after a coordinated assault targeted military positions across Mali, the African nation\u2019s army has said Malian forces backed by Russia\u2019s Africa Corps have repelled…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37011,"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-37010","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