Last year saw a surge of deadly assaults on Mali’s military posts
Around 30 Mali soldiers killed in jihadist attack
Army official says soldiers attacked by suspected jihadists at military camp in Tarkint, north of Gao.
Friday 20/03/2020
Last year saw a surge of deadly assaults on Mali’s military posts
BAMAKO - "Around 30" Malian soldiers were killed and five more injured in a suspected jihadist attack Thursday in the north of the country, the army said.
The attack took place early Thursday at a military camp in Tarkint, north of Gao, an army official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"The toll in the attack of #Tarkint (#Gao) has risen to around 30 deaths and five wounded," Mali's armed forces wrote on Twitter.
Earlier, the army had said that its camp in Tarkint was the target of a "terrorist attack", putting the initial toll at two dead and 10 injured.
It is the deadliest attack on the Malian army in four months.
A French-led military operation ousted jihadists from power in northern Mali in 2013, though they dispersed and regrouped. They have also been pushing farther south.
Last year saw a surge of deadly assaults on Mali’s military posts. The extremists add to their weapons stockpile with each raid.