Mali Conducts Air Strikes Amid Rising Conflict in Northern Desert

Mali has launched air strikes in the northern desert town of Tinzaouaten following attacks by ethnic Tuareg rebels and Islamist fighters. The clashes resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers and their Russian allies. The Malian army's actions were in conjunction with forces from Burkina Faso, another pro-Russian military state.

Mali has initiated air strikes targeting insurgents in and around Tinzaouaten, located in the country's vast northern desert. This move follows deadly attacks by ethnic Tuareg rebels and Islamist fighters that resulted in significant casualties among Malian soldiers and their Russian allies.

The Malian military, collaborating with Burkina Faso's forces, hit what they described as a 'coalition of terrorists.' Specific high-value targets including logistic positions and vehicles were targeted, according to the army. Civilians were urged to avoid areas occupied by insurgents for safety.

The Tuareg rebel group, CSP, condemned the air strikes, claiming many civilians, including migrant laborers from Niger, Chad, and Sudan, were killed. Additional clashes saw Wagner, the Russian private military company, suffer losses, including the death of their unit commander Sergei Shevchenko.

(With inputs from agencies.)