The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have announced that they successfully repelled an attempted infiltration targeting their military base in the northern city of Timbuktu.
According to the General Staff of the FAMa, thirteen assailants were neutralised during a counter-offensive launched in response to the attack, which also led to the seizure of weapons and ammunition. Search and sweep operations are currently underway in the surrounding area. The swift military response comes amid a deteriorating security environment marked by a series of coordinated assaults. Military sources indicated that the attack on the Timbuktu base began at dawn. Backed by specialised units, the FAMa mounted an immediate counterattack and managed to repel the assault without sustaining casualties, according to a provisional army statement.
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Source: APA News
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