Tuareg Separatists Ambush Malian Military Convoy in Northern Mali
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BAMAKO (Terror Monitor) — Tuareg separatist fighters ambushed a Malian military convoy on Saturday morning near the northern town of Tabankort, triggering heavy clashes that were still ongoing, according to military and security officials.
Military sources said the convoy was traveling from the strategic northern town of Anefis to Gao when it came under attack near Tabankort.
"Our convoy was attacked this morning while traveling from Anefis to Gao. The fighting is still ongoing. It was an ambush," a soldier stationed in Gao told AFP.
A source within the Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA) also confirmed the attack. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the convoy sustained losses but was able to continue its journey.
The FLA released images claiming to show dozens of captured Malian soldiers. However, the claim could not be independently verified.
The latest attack comes days after heavy fighting in Anefis, where around 30 Malian soldiers were killed and 60 others wounded, according to figures released by the Malian Army General Staff on July 12.
On July 10, the Malian military, backed by Russia's Africa Corps paramilitary force, announced it had regained control of Anefis after several days of intense fighting.
Mali has been battling a complex insurgency since 2012, with large parts of its northern and central regions affected by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State (ISIS), as well as Tuareg separatist movements seeking greater autonomy or independence for the Azawad region.
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