Malian army says about 100 terrorists neutralised in northern operations
Dakar, July 9 (IANS) The Malian forces have neutralised about 100 terrorists during operations carried out on Wednesday in the areas of Anefis and Tabrichat in northern Mali, authorities said on Thursday.
In a statement, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said the Malian Armed Forces, in coordination with their partners, continued operations against armed terrorist groups it described as affiliated with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims and the Azawad Liberation Front.
According to the statement, the operations involved 13 airstrikes, destroying six combat vehicles and one pickup truck, Xinhua news agency reported.
The general staff reaffirmed the army’s determination to continue operations against armed terrorist groups across the national territory.
The Malian army said on Tuesday that more than 200 terrorists were neutralised during coordinated air and ground operations carried out in Anefis in the country’s northern Kidal region.
According to a statement issued by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Monday’s operations involved 35 airstrikes. The provisional toll also included five armoured vehicles, around 20 pickup trucks and about 100 motorcycles destroyed
The army said operations by the Malian Armed Forces and their partners were continuing in Anefis, reaffirming its determination to pursue actions against armed terrorist groups until the set objectives are achieved.
The operations came after attacks on July 4 targeting several localities in Mali, including Aguelhok, Anefis, Gao, Sévaré, and Kenioroba. The Malian army said at the time that it had repelled the attacks.
Mali has faced a volatile security situation for years, with attacks by armed groups occurring frequently, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country.
In April, the country’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence in the town of Kati, near Bamako, carried out by armed terrorist groups.
–IANS
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