Terrorist-held strategic positions in Mali's Anefis cleared: army

Bamako, July 10 (IANS) Strategic positions held by armed terrorist groups in Anefis, in Mali’s northern Kidal region, were cleared before the arrival of a major logistics convoy from Gao, the Malian army said Friday.

In a statement, the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said the army continued joint operations in several operational areas.

According to the statement, the army had cleared strategic positions held by terrorists in Anefis 48 hours before the convoy’s arrival, restoring conditions needed for the advance of its forces, Xinhua news agency reported.

The logistics convoy from Gao arrived in Anefis on Thursday night. The army said air and ground operations helped secure the route and the entry into the locality despite several clashes and ambushes by armed terrorist groups affiliated with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, or JNIM, the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, and their affiliates, who also used suicide drones.

The army also said it carried out 15 airstrikes over the past 24 hours in Anefis, Tabrichat in the Gao region, and Koulebala in the Sévaré area. It said 12 combat vehicles were destroyed and nearly 100 terrorists were neutralised.

The general staff reaffirmed the army’s determination to continue operations against armed terrorist groups across the national territory.

The operations followed attacks on July 4 that targeted several localities in Mali, including Aguelhok, Anefis, Gao, Sevare, and Kenioroba. The Malian army said at the time that it had repelled the attacks.

Mali has faced a volatile security situation for years, with attacks by armed groups occurring frequently, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country.

In April, the country’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence in the town of Kati, near Bamako, carried out by armed terrorist groups.

–IANS

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