Militants linked to al Qaeda and a Tuareg-led separatist group ambushed a military convoy in northern Mali over the weekend, ​and a source close to the rebels said more ‌than 50 soldiers and allied Russian fighters were killed and others taken hostage.

The attack marked the latest in a series of escalating assaults by the two ​groups, which joined forces for nationwide attacks in April that ​killed the defence minister and hit the airport in ⁠the capital Bamako, and launched a second wave this month, opens new tab aimed at ​seizing the town of Anefis.

The incident occurred on Saturday between Anefis ​and the city of Gao in the north, according to statements from Mali's armed forces, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), and the al Qaeda-linked group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam ​wal Muslimin (JNIM).

Mali's army said the ambush happened in the Tabrichat ​area and was followed by retaliatory airstrikes that killed at least 20 insurgents.

The FLA ‌statement ⁠said "dozens" of Malian soldiers and members of the Russian paramilitary Africa Corps had been "neutralised" and that there was considerable material damage.

A source close to the FLA said more than 50 pro-government fighters were killed. ​Reuters could not ​independently confirm ⁠the death toll.

JNIM shared footage online that appeared to show soldiers surrendering following the ambush, with their ​hands behind their heads, as well as rebels firing ​at ⁠some of their captives. Reuters has not independently verified the footage.

The army has so far retained control of Anefis.

The mounting violence poses a threat ⁠to ​Mali's military-led government which took power in ​coups in 2020 and 2021 and promised to improve security in the landlocked Sahel ​country.


-Reuters