Mali: Military says 15 soldiers and three civilians have died in attacks

Six soldiers were killed and another 25 injured in armed attacks on army positions in Sokolo, a city in south-central Mali, the army said.

Malian soldiers killed 48 attackers and destroyed three pickup trucks carrying weapons and ammunition in a subsequent counterattack, according to a preliminary assessment by the country’s armed forces.

The attackers also killed nine soldiers and three civilians in an early Wednesday morning attack on the southwestern city of Kalumba. According to the military, Malian forces contained and repulsed the attack, and also destroyed several “terrorist logistics bases” camouflaged by vegetation.

The Mali military did not say if the attackers were killed.

A third attack on military installations near the south-central town of Mopti was repulsed without casualties, the statement said.

CNN is unable to independently confirm the casualty figures for the Malian armed forces.

The Mali military expressed condolences to the families of the victims and tried to reassure citizens that they will stand firm in their “fight against terrorism” and continue to put pressure on armed groups and their hideouts.

The latest spate of attacks comes days after heavy gunfire was heard at the main military base outside Mali’s capital Bamako early in the morning, then subsided after about an hour in what camp residents say was an attack by Islamist militants. according to Reuters.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced in February, France and other Western countries involved in French-led anti-terrorism operations in West Africa will begin withdrawing troops from Mali following the 2020 coup and subsequent establishment of a military junta. The withdrawal was expected to take four to six months.

France first launched an anti-terror operation in Mali in 2013 under former President Francois Hollande.