BAMAKO,
Mali
Ten Malian soldiers were killed and several others were injured after suspected Islamist militants attacked their camp in Mali’s restive central region early on Wednesday, security sources said.
One source who spoke on condition
of anonymity said “heavily armed individuals in armoured vehicles” attacked the
camp at Boni, located between Douentza and Hombori in Mopti region.
The camp was also severely
damaged and the militants made away with a variety of equipment, the source
added.
A Malian military official said
the attackers suffered “major casualties” but did not give any further
information.
The Malian army said on social
media that it had received air support from France’s anti-jihadist Barkhane
mission in the Sahel.
Tadayt, a propaganda outlet
affiliated to Al-Qaeda, claimed that the attack was conducted by the Group to
Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM), reputed to be one of the most dangerous
groups in the Sahel region.
Mali, particularly its central
region, has been plagued by deadly ethnic and jihadist violence since 2012 when
a revolt broke out leaving thousands of people dead and thousands of others
displaced.
Mali’s military has also suffered
great losses in terms of personnel and equipment in the fight to regain the
region’s peace and stability.
No comments:
Post a Comment