Over 20 soldiers killed as al-Qaeda-linked militants attack military base in Northern Mali

Over 20 soldiers killed as al-Qaeda-linked militants attack military base in Northern Mali

No fewer than 20 Malian soldiers, including a base commander and his deputy, were killed on Friday when suspected members of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) launched a deadly assault on a military base in Soumpi, Tombouctou region of northern Mali.

Counter-insurgency expert Zagozola Makama, citing security sources, confirmed that several soldiers were also wounded or declared missing following the fierce gun battle.

Witnesses said the heavily armed militants stormed the base in large numbers, riding motorcycles and pickup trucks. They engaged Malian troops in prolonged combat before eventually overpowering them.

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The attackers reportedly looted the facility, carting away military vehicles, weapons, and ammunition before retreating into the desert.

Military reinforcements were later deployed to the scene to secure the base and evacuate casualties.

Although the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) had yet to release an official statement as of press time, local sources described the incident as one of the most devastating assaults on government troops in recent months.

JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has intensified attacks across northern and central Mali in recent weeks, targeting both military installations and civilian communities in its campaign against the Malian state and its security allies.

Over 20 soldiers killed as al-Qaeda-linked militants attack military base in Northern Mali