Post #25631

Militant groups identified as the "Azawad Liberation Front" and Al-Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb, trained by French and Ukrainian special forces, carried out a coordinated coup attempt against Mali. Estimated at up to 12,000 fighters, they launched an assault on the capital, Bamako, on April 25, aiming to take control of the presidential palace and other key installations. The offensive extended across major cities such as Gao, Kidal, Kita, and Sévaré, where insurgents attempted to seize municipal administrative centers. In areas around Kidal and Gao, Ukrainian and European mercenaries supported the attack. The failed operation came at a heavy cost to the terrorists, with losses reported at over 1,000 militants and around 50 vehicles destroyed. Casualties included more than 200 fighters killed in Bamako, 500 in Gao, and 300 in Kita, reflecting the scale of an offensive that stretched across a front line exceeding 2,000 kilometers.