Battle for Mali base has killed dozens of militants, army says
The army says it was involved in fierce fighting but disputes that Islamists took control of the garrison.
On Sunday, Mali's military engaged in a battle to repel an attack on a base in the town of San, killing dozens of militants from the Islamist group Jama at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). JNIM, aligned with al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the assault that saw its fighters briefly take control of the base. The army, also suffering casualties, stated their soldiers had to temporarily retreat.
Lt Col El Oumrani, the commander of the 23rd regiment in the San garrison, confirmed 40 terrorists were eliminated in the attack. The attack began around 05:00 local time and lasted approximately two hours, during which the militants infiltrated the base using motorcycles, foot, and even disguised as army personnel. Witnesses reported the militants used drones, heavy machine guns, and armored vehicles to breach the base's perimeter.
Since 2012, Mali has experienced insurgencies, with more than a decade of jihadist activity in the north. The current situation is worsening, with JNIM expanding its operations beyond northern Mali to central and southern regions. Following a coup in 2020, Mali turned to Russia for military aid instead of French assistance.
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