200 militants killed in airstrikes: Malian army

Bamako: More than 200 attackers were killed in targetted airstrikes carried out by Malian armed forces on Friday morning, Mali’s state television reported on Saturday.

The report, citing a statement from the General Staff of the Armed Forces, said the strikes targeted a large column of armed militants that had crossed from a neighbouring border area and was allegedly preparing fresh attacks.

According to an initial army assessment, four pickup trucks mounted with heavy weapons and more than 60 motorcycles were also destroyed in the operation, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Malian army said it would continue pursuing armed militant groups across the country.

On April 26, the Malian army stated that it had killed more than 100 terrorists in the western region of Koulikoro.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces said in the statement that during sweep operations following Saturday’s terrorist attacks, Malian air assets detected a column of motorcycles moving toward a hideout west of the locality of Kolokani in the Koulikoro region.

Airstrikes were then carried out against the target, killing more than 100 terrorists and destroying their logistics, according to the statement.

Armed terrorist groups launched coordinated attacks on several cities across Mali on April 25 and also targetted General Sadio Camara, the Minister of Defence’s residence in the town of Kati, near the capital Bamako, during which the Defence Minister and his wife were killed.

In a statement, the government of the West African nation said the attacks targetted multiple locations, including the garrison towns of Kati, Sevare, Gao and Kidal, as well as the capital, Bamako.

On April 28, India strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in the African nation and expressed condolences on the demise of General Sadio Camara.

The Indian Embassy in Mali has urged all Indian nationals residing in the country to remain highly vigilant following multiple attacks by armed groups across the country.

IANS