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Jihadist Group Launches Multi-Pronged Assault in Western Mali
The Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist organization, has claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks targeting military installations in western Mali. The assaults occurred near the borders with Senegal and Mauritania, marking the third major offensive in the region this month.
Details of the Attacks
According to the group's statement, JNIM fighters simultaneously attacked multiple locations, primarily military targets. The terrorists claim to have seized three military barracks and captured weapons and vehicles, images of which circulated on social media. France 24 reports that four foreign nationals - three Indian citizens and one Chinese national - were abducted during the raids, likely workers from attacked cement or tile factories.
Military Response and Escalating Conflict
The Malian army reported neutralizing approximately eighty attackers in counter-operations. This incident continues a decade-long pattern of jihadist violence in Mali, where groups linked to both al-Qaeda and Islamic State have exploited political instability following two military coups. Since expelling French and UN peacekeeping forces in 2022, Mali's military government has relied on Russian Wagner Group mercenaries for security support.
JNIM's Expanding Influence
JNIM operates as an umbrella organization for multiple al-Qaeda-aligned groups and has significantly expanded its territorial control since early 2025. Beyond military operations, the group functions as a quasi-state entity in northern and central Mali, collecting taxes, controlling gold mines, and establishing checkpoints. Their governance model and economic opportunities attract recruits from Mali's impoverished population, where unemployment remains critically high.
The ongoing Mali conflict originated in 2012 with a Tuareg separatist rebellion that was subsequently hijacked by jihadist groups. Despite international intervention and peace agreements, violence has intensified since 2018, with jihadists now controlling approximately two-thirds of Malian territory according to security analysts.
