A military convoy carrying Malian troops and Russian Africa Corps fighters was attacked in northern Mali on Thursday, according to three security sources and a spokesperson for a rebel group.
The convoy, which sources said included more than 200 Russian fighters and over 100 Malian soldiers, came under fire while heading toward the town of Anefis. Fighting has continued in that area since July 4, when insurgents launched a series of assaults across the region.
A spokesperson for the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, said the group was behind Thursday’s attack. It is not clear if the Al Qaeda-linked JNIM group also took part. JNIM and the FLA carried out joint attacks on army positions on July 4, and previously teamed up in April for a major operation in Bamako that targeted the airport and killed the defense minister.
This was the second convoy hit this week, according to one source.
Niger, an ally of Mali, provided air support during the clash. Niger’s military could not be reached for comment, and Mali’s military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Africa Corps, the Russian paramilitary group, has been supporting Mali’s army in its fight against insurgencies that have affected the country since 2012.
