The Malian armed forces have resumed military operations in Kidal, the country’s far north, in a notable development on the ground that comes days after an alliance of groups linked to al-Qaeda and separatist movements seized control of the city.
According to cross-referenced field data, Sukhoi-24 fighter jets have been carrying out a series of concentrated airstrikes since Wednesday afternoon targeting strategically important sites, including what is believed to be a command headquarters for militants inside the city, as well as logistical facilities and fuel depots used to support combat operations.
Financial aviation
The strikes also targeted sites within the military base from which the army had previously withdrawn, where military equipment and supplies that it was unable to evacuate during the withdrawal process were bombed, in a move aimed at preventing them from falling into the hands of armed groups.
According to local sources, the strikes resulted in deaths among the militants, including field commanders who were likely meeting at the time of the attack, which may indicate an intelligence breach or precise monitoring of their movements within the city.
Malian army strikes
These strikes are the first large-scale air response since the city was lost, and indicate that military operations have entered a new phase based on air superiority and precise targeting, in light of the repositioning of ground forces outside Kidal.
As of the time of writing this report, the Malian Armed Forces have not issued any official statement regarding the operation or its outcome, leaving the field open to field estimates and speculations, pending an official clarification that may reveal the actual extent of the losses and the impact of the strikes on the balance of power in the region.
These developments come at a time when northern Mali is still experiencing a complex situation on the ground, with terrorist groups maintaining a presence inside the city of Kidal, while the Malian armed forces continue to control the rest of the northern cities, particularly Gao, Timbuktu and Menaka.
In this context, the forces are working to reorganize and reposition themselves in the Anefif area, located about 110 kilometers from Kidal, in preparation for a decisive military phase aimed at regaining control of the city.
