Written by: Badr Ahmed

The General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces announced on Tuesday the continuation of joint military operations carried out by the Malian Armed Forces, with the support of their partners, in the Anéfis region in the north of the country. They confirmed significant losses in personnel and equipment among the armed groups, as part of a broad campaign launched following the attacks the country witnessed at the beginning of July.

More than 200 militants killed and dozens of vehicles destroyed

The General Staff said in an official statement that the operations carried out on Monday, July 6, 2026, resulted in 35 airstrikes targeting the positions and movements of armed groups, resulting in the destruction of five armored vehicles, about 20 four-wheel-drive pickup trucks, and more than 100 motorcycles used for movement, supply, and combat.

The statement added that the forces participating in the operations also managed to neutralize more than 200 elements, described as "terrorists," in one of the largest tolls announced by the Malian army since the coordinated attacks that targeted a number of military sites on July 4th.

These military operations come after the wide-ranging attack launched by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, in coordination with the Azawad Liberation Front. The attacks targeted several military sites in northern and central Mali, with the Anief military camp, located about 110 kilometers south of the city of Kidal, being the main target of the attackers.

According to the Malian army, the armed forces, supported by elements of the Russian African Corps, managed to repel the attack and maintain full control of the military base, before launching extensive air and ground operations to pursue the retreating elements in the vicinity of Anfif and surrounding areas.

The operations included the use of drones, warplanes, and combat helicopters, in addition to ground units that carried out sweeping and pursuit operations targeting the movement routes of armed groups and their supply lines.

The military operations are still ongoing.

The General Staff affirmed that military operations are still ongoing, emphasizing that the forces will continue to pressure armed groups until all set operational objectives are achieved, preventing them from reorganizing or launching new attacks.

The military leadership also praised the vigilance and cooperation of the local population with the armed forces, affirming that the information provided by citizens has contributed to supporting field operations and enhancing their effectiveness.

Mali has been witnessing an escalation in attacks by armed groups for years, particularly in the northern and central regions. This comes amidst ongoing efforts by the authorities to restore security and reassert control over the entire territory through continuous military operations in cooperation with their partners, all while facing complex security challenges in the African Sahel region.