Earlier today, a #FLA team observed the passing convoy. This video shows a lot of armoured vehicles, both MRAPs and APCs, carried on heavy trailers. While the specific kind is hard to determine, all appear to have a mounted HMG.
It seems another convoy left #Gao today, travelling toward #Anefis in #Mali. About 70 vehicles, composition unknown. They likely aim mainly to replenish stocks in Kidal, Anefis, and Tessalit. I don't think this convoy is pushing to Aguelhok at that time.
A bridge near #Dabi, #Mali (15°54'19.1"N 4°08'21.1"W), has been attacked with explosives. It's on a large route leading to Niafunke, and with the rain season ongoing, the damage is enough to stop heavy vehicles from progressing further until it's consolidated. AK soldiers are seen inspecting damage.
In my second article for Defense Archives, I cover the 13th June battle near Aguelhok, opposing the #FLA and #FAMa / #AfricaCorps: lead up, timeline, losses estimation, and implications.
defensearchives.com/news/convoy-...
Seemingly, a pickup-mounted Type 63 MLRS in possession of the #FLA, somewhere in #Mali. This is serious firepower.
#AfricaCorps seemingly employed a BMP-3 yesterday to fight JNIM back in northwestern #Mali. Proximity to #Bamako and major roads/infrastructures means heavier vehicles can be deployed.
#JNIM is attacking #Kayes in western #Mali, a major city, as well as other smaller locations simultaneously (Niono). They took casualties in some places and met success in others, not clear who's controlling what yet.
www.jeuneafrique.com/1700161/poli...
New report on something everyone knows: #Wagner is not in Africa to help. Between contempt for human life, outspoken racism and massacres, the PMC's pay-per-view content is revealed in a new article.
"In a general situation in the Sahel that is turning to the advantage of JNIM, which is now publicly calling for the formation of a national unity government without the junta, Africa Corps appears tactically weak and incapable of reversing this trend with serious consequences."
Su-24 arrived on station about an hour ago. It seems AK is taking heavy losses, and FLA is not backing down.
The Afrika Korps column, assisted by #FAMa, has been attacked by the #FLA near #Aguelhok, #Mali, after loosing a truck to an IED yesterday. Combats are intense and AK seems stopped, with the FLA claiming 2 MRAPs and 8 trucks destroyed so far.
Happy to sign my first article for Defense Archives! A recap of the late May-early June attacks in the AES states, followed by insights on the situation of each group and the likely evolution. defensearchives.com/news/a-russi...
Wagner is officially announcing their withdrawal from #Mali. Although that may sound like good news, it only means the transfer of Wagner duties to russian MoD-controlled groups (Rusich, Afrika Korps...) is complete. No change is to be expected to the situation on the ground.
According to the #UNHCR, the number of Malian refugees in the #Mbera camp in #Mauritania is still rising, with almost twice as many people as when the camp opened at the beginning of the malian crisis.
data.unhcr.org/en/country/mrt
Recent attacks in #Mali (Falmey, Boulkessi, Koumbri, Eknawane) show increased intensity, violence and frequency. #JNIM is attacking in contested territories while #ISGS is probing response time.
Retaliations have been weak (mainly air support) and #Russian losses are pilling up.
Below : Boulkessi
While Mali definitely is, I'd say Algeria is more opportunistic. They tend to align with whoever brings short term benefits. There is also a non-negligible french influence on Algeria that could be at play here.
The situation is deteriorating.
On the 06/04, #AES states admitted the drone was shot down and accused #Algeria of "exporting terrorism"
On the 07/04, Algeria called the #mali|an govt a junta for the first time, and both sides recalled their diplomats.
www.france24.com/fr/afrique/2...
This is a good indicator regarding Mali/Algeria relations. Algeria is closely monitoring its southern border and will not allow any cross-border operation. The loss of an akinci is a severe blow to Mali.
The Algerian army destroyed a #Malian UCAV (Baykar #Bayraktar Akıncı) after it allegedly penetrated 2 kilometers inside #Algeria around Tinzaouatene, probably looking for #Azawad rebels. The wreck, including MAM missiles, is in rebels' hands. x.com/mdnGovDz/sta...
This attacks shows all the hallmarks of the Wagner method as shown in Syria. Extreme brutality at this time was their way of "providing results" to their new employer. A way to distinguish themselves from the more "cautious" UN coalition. www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/w...
Today marks the third aniversary of the Moura massacre, during which 500+ people were killed/tortured. The malian govt claimed an operation that killed 200 terrorist in the same timeframe, and an investigation was promised. Nothing came of it so far, and witnesses are silenced.
#JNIM ambushed a malian Norinco VP11 (China) with a roadside IED in Timbuktu region on the 11th of march. It looks like the hull effectively protected the crew, althought the rollover indicates a powerful charge.
"[Moscow's] shifting dynamics surrounding its use as a launchpad to Africa only underscore Libya’s importance—not as a fallback, but as part of a long strategy to expand Moscow’s strategic foothold in the region and project power beyond it." www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...
It's unclear which event he is refering to. The initial invasion took a toll especially among attack helos. 5th march 2022 was also a black day for the russian aviation. There's also the Bryansk AA attack in may 2023 that saw the destruction of 4 aircrafts. It depends on FB's def of "veterans" tbh.
According to russian aviation affiliated telegram channel FighterBomber, several helicopters were shot down, with crew killed, in this engagement. They call it the largest loss of veteran helo crew since 2022.
After losing control of its uranium mine in Niger in early december, Orano, french leader on nuclear fuel, is about to conclude a deal with Mongolia.
oilprice.com/Latest-Energ...
Interesting to see the helicopter crash while still flaring, and whole as far as I can tell. I wonder if this could be a manoeuver kill instead of a missile impact. Mi-8s and variants have quite finicky controls, especially regarding descent rate.
INPACT is trying to centralize documents left behind by #SyAA and Russian forces during their retreat in #Syria. They've been doing crucial work regarding Russia's secret ways of war, help them out if you can.
It seems syrians just can't catch a break.
Since the fall of Assad, Israel has engaged in the systematic destruction of any kind of long range weapons, including planes, air defense, and storage facilities, but also attacked research facilities. Photo below shows the destruction of the Damascus scientific complex.
