RUSSIAN JETS STRIKE REBEL ALLIANCE IN MALI AS BATTLES ERUPT NEAR TIMBUKTU
Fierce fighting is unfolding in northern Mali after Russian-backed airstrikes targeted positions held by a newly aligned rebel coalition in the Kidal region.
The strikes reportedly hit fighters from the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA) and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked faction operating across the Sahel.
The two groups once distinct in aims have recently formed a tactical alliance against Malian government forces and their Russian partners, raising alarm over a widening insurgency.
In a rapid escalation, rebel fighters are said to have crossed the Niger River, pushing south toward Timbuktu. Heavy clashes are now reported inside Gourma Rharous, signaling a dangerous new phase in the conflict.
The situation remains volatile, with control of key مناطق hanging in the balance.