In August 2022, an attack by suspected Islamists killed 42 Malian soldiers and injured 22 more. The attack was one of the deadliest attacks in recent years during the Mali War.
Background
In 2012, Tuareg rebels launched a rebellion against the Malian government. After some initial success, hardline Islamist groups such as AQIM and ISWAP hijacked the rebellion and began an insurgency against the Malian government. Some of the worst affected regions throughout the war have been the southern provinces of Gao and Mopti. In early March 2022, rebels attacked Malian soldiers stationed in the area of Mondoro, killing 33 Malian soldiers and injuring 33 more.[1]
Attack
On August 7, around 3pm local time, alleged ISGS fighters launched an attack on Malian soldiers near Tessit with "drones, explosives, car bombs, and artillery"[2] The Malian government released a statement claiming to have killed 37 fighters during the ensuring battle.[3] Two of the civilians killed during the fighting were elected officials.[3]
References
- ^ "Rebels attack army base in central Mali, killing 27 soldiers". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
- ^ "Mali says soldier death toll in Tessit attack has risen to 42". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
- ^ a b "42 Malian Soldiers Killed in Suspected Jihadi Attacks". VOA. Retrieved 2022-09-06.