Extremists kill dozens of soldiers at a Mali military base, sources say

2 days ago 2

Extremists person killed dozens of soldiers successful an onslaught connected a subject basal successful Mali

ByBABA AHMED Associated Press

BAMAKO, Mali -- Extremists person killed dozens of soldiers successful an onslaught connected a subject basal successful Mali, civilian nine and subject sources said Tuesday, successful the latest militant unit successful West Africa's restive Sahel region.

The onslaught connected Sunday connected the basal successful Boulkessi, adjacent the borderline with Burkina Faso, killed astatine slightest 60 soldiers and wounded 40 more, a civilian nine activistic successful the country told The Associated Press. They spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to speech to reporters.

The al-Qaida-linked JNIM radical claimed responsibility.

A subject root told the AP determination were astir 280 soldiers successful the base, and “all of those who didn’t dice were taken captive by the terrorists.” The root spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to speech to reporters.

Mali's service acknowledged the onslaught successful a connection Monday, adding that soldiers had fought “to their past breath.” It did not supply an nonstop decease toll.

Mali, on with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has battled an insurgency by equipped groups, including immoderate allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following subject coups successful each 3 nations successful caller years, they person expelled French forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for information assistance.

In a abstracted onslaught connected Monday, JNIM claimed work for coordinated attacks connected a subject airport, a subject basal and service checkpoints successful the bluish municipality of Timbuktu.

Mali’s service said Monday connected societal media it repelled the onslaught and that 13 extremists had been killed. It did not accidental whether immoderate soldiers were killed.

A infirmary worker successful the municipality said 1 worker died of his wounds and 10 different radical were wounded. The worker spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to speech to reporters.

Timbuktu residents said they heard dense gunfire and saw equipped men participate the municipality connected motorcycles. They spoke connected information of anonymity retired of fearfulness of reprisals.

Rida Lyammouri, a Sahel adept astatine the Morocco-based Policy Center for the New South, said the precocious level of coordination successful the 2 attacks shows that JNIM had been readying them for a while.

Attacks by extremists person been connected the emergence successful Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso successful caller weeks. JNIM has established a beardown beingness successful both.