Mali Base Battle Kills 40 Militants – Army Says Attack Repelled

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:39:21 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a midnight clash, Mali’s soldiers reported killing 40 jihadists who briefly took over a base. The fight underscores the growing challenge of JNIM and the shifting security politics in West Africa.

On Sunday night, Mali’s army said it killed 40 militants from JNIM after the extremist group seized the San base. Soldiers had to retreat briefly before regaining control, and the clash left at least 10 soldiers dead. The attack reflects the increasing reach of jihadists into eastern Mali and hints at a new period where Mali has turned to Russia for military support.

Mali’s army says it killed 40 jihadists during a nighttime raid that briefly saw the extremist group seize a base in the town of San.

The attackers, belonging to the al‑Qaeda‑affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM), used motorcycles, bomb drones and armored vehicles to breach the camp’s perimeter. Soldiers were forced to retreat for a short period, but quickly regained control and reportedly inflicted heavy losses on the assailants.

Lt Col El Oumrani of the 23rd regiment aired a video that claimed around 40 militants were eliminated, urging civilians to remain vigilant but reassuring that the base was not abandoned.

The clash comes amid a decade‑long insurgency that has driven large swathes of northern and eastern Mali outside government reach. In 2024, Mali rejected French aid and sought security cooperation from Russia, hinting at a new era in regional rebalancing.

At least 10 soldiers lost their lives, and the militants briefly held the camp, flaring tensions in a country that has become a hub for fighters seeking to expand their influence.

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