The Malian army is reportedly deploying Soviet-made cluster bombs and Russian drones against rebels, with unexploded ordnance found and a Russian Shahed-136 drone, featuring Iranian technology and Chinese components, shot down by rebels.
An Al Qaeda-affiliated group has claimed that the Malian army has withdrawn from a northern town, indicating a spread of the insurgency. This development suggests a shifting dynamic in the region's conflict.
Jihadist groups and Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility for a series of large-scale, coordinated attacks on Malian army bases across the country, leading to fresh battles and prompting condemnation from the UN.
The Malian army carried out overnight airstrikes on the northern city of Kidal, which has been under the control of Tuareg separatists and their jihadist allies since a large-scale offensive last month.
Militant groups, including JNIM and Tuareg rebels, launched a series of coordinated attacks involving explosions and gunfire across Mali, targeting the capital Bamako and other cities. The Malian army confirmed clashes, drawing international condemnation and expressions of solidarity.
Two rebel groups seized the city of Kidal in Mali on April 26, including a site that houses a ground control station for drones previously operated by the Malian Army.
Russian mercenaries have confirmed their withdrawal from the strategic northern Mali city of Kidal following intense attacks by Tuareg rebels. This retreat marks a significant setback for Mali's junta and its Russian allies, with rebels now controlling the key stronghold.
Fighting has resumed in Kidal, Mali, between Tuareg rebels, who are allied with jihadists, and the Russian-backed Malian army. The Tuareg rebels also announced the withdrawal of Russian Afrika Korps troops from the area.