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Ambush in Gao region
Islamist militants and separatists ambushed a Malian military convoy in northern Mali, with the Malian army confirming the attack in a remote part of the northern Gao region.
“Our convoy leaving Anéfis for Gao was attacked this morning near Tabankort. The fighting is ongoing. It’s an ambush.”
The ABC News report says the convoy was leaving the northern town of Anefis and headed to Gao city when it was ambushed in the Sahara desert, and it described the rebels as killing or capturing scores of soldiers.
France 24 reported that Tuareg independence fighters attacked an army convoy on Saturday, July 18, as the convoy departed Anéfis for Gao near Tabankort, and it quoted a military source based in Gao saying, "Our convoy leaving Anéfis for Gao was attacked this morning near Tabankort. The fighting is ongoing. It’s an ambush."
France 24 also said the FLA confirmed the attack by stating, "We attacked the convoy composed of about fifty vehicles between Tabankort and Tangara."
Al Jazeera added that the Malian military said it launched a counterattack after fighters linked to al-Qaeda and members of a separatist group ambushed soldiers in the volatile north.
Claims, videos, and counters
Both the regional al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, claimed responsibility for the attack as a joint operation, and ABC News said the groups spoke about “great human losses” and “serious material damage” on the side of the Malian army.
ABC News quoted FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane saying, "There were many soldiers killed, others captured alive. Army cars including armored cars were destroyed and others seized in good condition," as it described rebels releasing videos purportedly showing soldiers lined up as they appeared to be surrendering.
Al Jazeera reported that the Malian army said its partners were also attacked, likely referring to Russian paramilitaries or mercenaries, and it said the army has not provided details of its losses.
Al Jazeera also relayed a military source based in Gao telling AFP, "Our convoy that was leaving Anefis for Gao was attacked this morning near Tabankort. The fighting is ongoing. It is an ambush," while noting the ambush occurred as the convoy traveled from Anefis to Gao.
ABC News said the Associated Press could not independently verify the videos the rebels shared, including one in which rebels were seen opening fire on some soldiers lying on the ground.
Casualties and next moves
France 24 reported that the violent clashes in Anéfis left about thirty dead and around sixty wounded among Malian soldiers, citing an official tally released on July 12 by the general staff.
“about thirty dead and around sixty wounded among Malian soldiers”
Al Jazeera said the fighting has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with more than five million people—almost 20 percent of the population—in need of assistance, and it described Mali as having been in the grip of a security crisis for more than 14 years.
Reuters was not included in these Africa sources, but the Malian army’s immediate response was described across outlets as a counterattack and “precision strikes” against enemy positions in the area where the attack happened.
ABC News said the army later reported it carried out “precision strikes against enemy positions,” adding that “Three terrorist positions were successfully targeted (and) several terrorists were neutralized,” and that these operations allowed the convoy to break free from the ambushes and continue its route.
In the same reporting thread, Al Jazeera said the ambush occurred as the convoy traveled from Anefis to Gao, and it noted that on July 10 the Malian army confirmed it had retaken Anefis in an operation that killed about 30 of its soldiers and injured about 60 others.