World

Al-Qaeda-Linked Militants Launch Major Coordinated Attacks Across Mali

JNIM, the al-Qaeda affiliate operating across the Sahel, claimed responsibility Saturday for simultaneous strikes on Bamako's international airport and four other cities across central and northern Mali — one of the largest coordinated militant operations the country has seen in years. The attacks signal a significant escalation in JNIM's capacity and ambition, coming as Mali's military junta has expelled French and UN peacekeeping forces and pivoted to Russian security partnerships. The strikes will intensify questions about whether the junta's security strategy is actually protecting civilians, and could destabilize the broader Sahel region further. Bamako's international airport was among the specific targets claimed.

Sources

Militants and separatists launch coordinated attacks across Mali

The Guardian · Apr 25

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