About 100 militants were killed and 12 armored vehicles were destroyed during air and ground operations in Anefis, according to the army.
The strategic northern town of Anefis, Mali has been retaken by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and the Russian African Army after more than a week of fighting with armed groups, the West African nation’s army has said.
In a statement On Saturday, FAMa said its army and allies had taken over “Full control” of the city and were consolidating their positions through clearing operations targeting the Liberation Group of Azawad (FLA), the Al-Qaeda-linked Group in Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), and allied groups.
The military said a large convoy of supplies from Gao entered Anefis on the night of July 9 after air and ground operations secured the route despite an ambush by Kamikaze drones. It said 15 airstrikes destroyed 12 armored vehicles and killed nearly 100 fighters in Anefis, Tabrichat and Koulebala areas within 24 hours.
A subsequent report said five other fighters were “neutral” and a combat vehicle destroyed during operations on July 10 and 11.
Africa Corps also posted photos and images on its Telegram channel on Monday, showing what it described as a destroyed terrorist truck with a ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun near Anefis.
Early Saturday, FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane he said The group’s fighters were controlling most of the Anefis positions and had imposed a five-day blockade on Malian and Russian forces. The statement admitted that the group had lost fighters and vehicles but did not provide figures.
Mali has been fighting jihadist rebels since 2012, a conflict that has spread to the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso and Niger. The three military-led nations have cut security ties with France, expelled French troops, and repeatedly accused Paris of sponsoring terrorism in the Sahel region. They have since turned to Russia for security assistance.
Africa Corps, a unit of the Russian Ministry of Defense that has been deployed in Mali since late 2024, provides training and combat support to national forces under security cooperation with Bamako.
The latest fighting began on July 4, when FLA fighters launched a coordinated attack on Anefis, Aguelhoc, Gao, Sevare, and Kenioroba. FAMa said that Malian forces and Africa Corps stopped the attacks and killed about 26 militants.
In a separate statement on Sunday, the army said several fighters and armored vehicles had been spotted near Aguelhoc and targeted for airstrikes.
