Written by: Qusay Ahmed

At least thirty people were killed in two simultaneous attacks targeting central areas. financialThe attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda militants, according to security and local sources.

Officials stated that the two attacks occurred in rural villages, where gunmen used firearms and burned homes, resulting in numerous civilian casualties. The attacks also displaced dozens of families fearing renewed violence.

Violence escalates in Mali30 killed in two attacks in the center of the country carried out by al-Qaeda

These attacks come in the context of escalating violence in Mali over the years, where groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS are active in various parts of the country, targeting both civilians and security forces.

Earlier, the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces announced the execution of a successful military operation against an armed group in western Mali, as part of a series of offensive reconnaissance operations launched by the armed forces following the recent attacks that targeted the capital, Bamako, and the city of Kati.

The General Staff said in a statement that army ground units carried out a precise operation in the Sibabogo region, which resulted in the neutralization, in an initial count, of more than 17 armed elements who were active in the region and are suspected of being linked to groups that threaten security and stability.

The statement added that the forces participating in the operation were also able to recover about 15 motorcycles that were in the possession of the militants, which are used for rapid movement and carrying out attacks in rugged areas, and are a means that armed groups frequently rely on in their field movements.

This operation comes in the wake of widespread attacks in Mali in recent days, targeting military and strategic sites in Bamako and Kati, resulting in deaths and injuries, and raising the level of alert within security and military institutions.

The city of Kati is of particular importance, as it contains key military sites and is one of the most prominent centers of military deployment near the capital, which makes any attack on it carry significant security and political dimensions.

Following those attacks, the Malian authorities announced the intensification of pursuit and search operations in a number of regions, focusing on areas where armed groups and their logistical support networks are active.