An air strike by the Malian army on a market in the northern Timbuktu region has killed at least 18 people and injured seven, according to a local rights group.
The Collective for the Defence of the Rights of the Azawad People, linked to separatist Tuareg rebels, reported that the strike targeted a weekly market 50 km north of the city of Lerneb.
The Malian army claimed it was targeting terrorist activity in the area, stating that the strikes “neutralised” at least 11 terrorists. However, the rights group’s account suggests that civilians were caught in the crossfire.
This incident is the latest in a series of violent clashes in northern Mali, where militant activity linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State is prevalent.
The Tuaregs, an ethnic group fighting for an independent homeland, have been involved in an insurgency against the Malian government since 2012.
The region has seen numerous air strikes by the Malian military, which has been under military rule since a 2020 coup.
Previous strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties, including the killing of at least 21 people, including 11 children, in August.
