Drone Strike in Mali: A Blow to Tuareg Rebel Leadership

Mali's government reported a significant drone strike that killed a senior Tuareg rebel commander in Tinzaouaten. The town, controlled by a rebel coalition, was a meeting place for Tuareg factions aiming to unite. This follows a breakdown of a 2015 peace agreement, leading to renewed clashes.

Mali's government announced on Sunday that a senior Tuareg rebel commander, Fahad Ag Almahmoud, was killed in a drone strike over the weekend. The attack took place in Tinzaouaten, a town in northern Mali under rebel control.

A Reuters correspondent reported the event from Tinzaouaten, near the Algerian border, where Tuareg factions gathered to form a unified military and political structure. The strikes hit amid a backdrop of a collapsed 2015 peace accord between the government and rebels that had led to renewed violence in the region.

The incident has not been officially acknowledged by the Malian army. However, a confidential military source indicated that the strike also targeted other 'terrorist leaders.' The ongoing conflict has already resulted in numerous casualties, including civilians, in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)