Mali army camp and airport in Timbuktu targeted in attack
Junta-ruled Mali has been gripped since 2012 by violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group as well as community and criminal groups.
The attackers tried to force their way into the military camp and shells were launched at the airport, which is two kilometres (just over a mile) from the city, the city governor's office said.
The situation is "under control", it added on social media.
"We are dealing with terrorists attacking Timbuktu. We are fighting back," a military source told AFP.
"The camp in the city centre has been attacked," the source added.
According to a security source, the attackers "are everywhere in the city" and operations in the army camp "are already over".
"They did not raid the airport because the Russians are there. But they launched shells. It's hot everywhere," the source added.
A local official said the "terrorists" arrived in Timbuktu "with a vehicle packed with explosives".
"The vehicle exploded near the (military) camp," the official said.
UN staff were instructed in a message "to take shelter" and "stay away from windows" due to "shooting in the city of Timbuktu".
A resident reported having heard "heavy gunfire in the city" which "seems to come from the side of the (military) camp".
A local journalist speaking by telephone said "the city is under fire".
"This morning our city was attacked by terrorist groups. Shots were heard near the military camp and the airport. We all returned home," he said.
The ancient city of Timbuktu, once known as the "city of 333 saints" for the Muslim holy men buried there, was subject to major destruction while under the control of jihadists for several months in 2012.
The jihadists who swept into the city considered the shrines idolatrous and destroyed them with pickaxes and bulldozers.
The fabled desert city was peacefully retaken in late January 2013 with the support of French military forces under Operation Serval, deployed to halt the jihadists' advance in Mali.
Since seizing power in coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali's military rulers have broken the country's traditional ties with its former colonial power France and moved closer to Russia.
Jihadist groups and the Malian army and its allies from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner are regularly accused of committing abuses against civilians.
lar-str-mk-sd-els/lp/kjm/cw
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
15 minutes ago
- New York Post
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt join calls for Hamas to disarm and exit Gaza to end war with Israel
Arab nations — including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt — joined calls Tuesday for Hamas to disarm and give up its grip on Gaza to end the 21-month war between the terror group and Israel. The Arab League, European Union and 17 other nations are pushing for an end to Hamas' nearly 20-year rule over Gaza as part of a two-state solution aimed at preventing further bloodshed and suffering of Palestinians, who are facing a humanitarian crisis. 'In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,' the declaration read. 5 The Arab League, European Union and 17 other nations called for a two-state solution that would exile Hamas from the Gaza Strip. AFP via Getty Images 5 The resolution would see the terror group disarm and bring peace to the devastated Gaza Strip. REUTERS 'We supported the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission upon invitation by the Palestinian Authority and under the aegis of the United Nations and in line with UN principles, building on existing UN capacities, to be mandated by the UN Security Council, with appropriate regional and international support,' it added. France, which formally recognized the state of Palestine last week, said the declaration is the strongest of its kind by virtue of being backed by Arab nations. 'For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn Oct. 7, call for the disarmament of Hamas, call for its exclusion from Palestinian governance, and clearly express their intention to normalize relations with Israel in the future,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said. It was the latest from the United Nations summit focused on reviving a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians in the wake of reports warning of widespread famine in Gaza if immediate action is not taken. 5 Tuesday's resolution was the first time Saudi Arabia, along with other Arab nations, joined the West in a two-state solution plan that condemns Hamas. Getty Images 5 The UN conferences come as more than a million Palestinian refugees living in Gaza stand on the brink of famine, according to food security experts. AFP via Getty Images Along with the declaration, Britain, which co-signed the order with France, has presented Israel with its own ultimatum. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday that the UK will recognize a state of Palestine before the United Nations 'unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a cease-fire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.' The US and Israel did not take part in the UN conference, with Israel's foreign ministry slamming any prospects of a two-state solution as a 'reward' for Hamas. 5 The 21-month-old war has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, according to its ministry of Health. REUTERS While Israel has previously said it is open to a deal that would see Gaza demilitarized and Hamas leaders exiled, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that a two-state solution is not on the table. The Israeli leader has also rejected any prospect that would see the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs the occupied West Bank, return to power in Gaza. The PA governed Gaza until Hamas was elected to power in 2006, with the terror group then ousting the PA leadership and exerting full control over the enclave. Israel has instead proposed that its military occupy Gaza indefinitely, with the Jewish state vetting local leaders who would go on to form their own government. With Post wires
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How to pronounce Ghislaine Maxwell's name
British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is making headlines again after meetings with the Department of Justice. A senior DOJ official met with Maxwell for a second day of talks on Friday, July 25. This comes as the Trump administration attempts to block the release of additional documents related to the investigation into Epstein's death. The disgraced financier died by suicide in August 2019 after being convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida, after being found guilty in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. She is currently appealing her sentence. POTUS on socialite Ghislaine Maxwell: Trump says he hasn't considered pardoning Epstein associate Closed-door discussions involved Maxwell, her attorneys and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's former defense lawyer. Maxwell's lawyer said an initial meeting with the Department of Justice was "very productive." But how do you pronounce Maxwell's first name? How to pronounce Ghislaine Maxwell's name The French name Ghislaine is pronounced" Ghee-len" with a hard "g" The "s" is silent while the "laine" portion rhymes with "again." It can also be pronounced "lahn" depending on the accent of the individual speaking the name. Contributing: USA TODAY's Christopher Cann, Jeff Burlew and Aysha Bagchi. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to pronounce the name of Epstein's girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Top Zelensky official praises Trump for giving Putin 10 days to end Ukraine invasion: ‘When America is serious, Russia backs down'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's right-hand man lauded President Trump Tuesday for shortening the time frame for Russia to show willingness to make peace with Kyiv — saying it will let Vladimir Putin know that Washington is 'serious' about ending the war in Ukraine. 'When the US leads, the free world follows. When America is serious, Russia backs down,' said Andriy Yermak — who runs the Ukrainian office of the president and seen as the equivalent to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. 'We have seen that before, and we are starting to see it again.' Trump, 79, told reporters aboard Air Force One Tuesday that Russia now has just 10 days — until Aug. 8 — to avoid economic sanctions aimed at stopping the flow of cash funding Moscow's more than 41-month-old invasion. 3 President Trump announced Tuesday he was giving Russia 10 days — until Aug. 8 — to show Moscow is serious about ending the war on Ukraine. AFP via Getty Images The US president originally gave Putin 50 days from July 14 to stop his brutal assault on Kyiv — but so far, the Kremlin tyrant has shown no inclination to do so, slamming Ukraine nightly with deadly bombings and drone strikes on civilians. Should that continue, Trump has promised to levy 100% tariffs on any country that buys Russian oil — either directly or indirectly — punishing those providing Moscow with its main source of income to power its war machine. Moscow has occasionally feigned interest in a negotiated settlement, most recently holding lower-level meetings with Ukrainian officials in Turkey last week. Putin has repeatedly refused to meet with Zelensky, who showed up in Turkey earlier this summer after Trump urged the two belligerents to hold direct talks, only to be stood up. At last week's meeting, according to Yermak, Moscow's reps kept the discussions to prisoner of war exchanges and did not entertain talk of a cease-fire. 'It is necessary to act,' Yermak told The Post in an exclusive interview. 'I believe in America. I believe in President Trump.' 3 Andriy Yermak speaks to reporters in Washington last month. AP With the clock ticking, the Kremlin has sent public messages to downplay the effects of potential sanctions in an attempt to change Trump's mind. On Monday, Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev accused Trump of risking a US-Russia war, claiming that 'Russia isn't Israel or even Iran' and cannot be influenced by American strength. 'Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war,' Medvedev threatened. 'Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!' Yermak said Medvedev was 'very stupid' to make such a statement, adding that Ukraine has never asked the US to get directly involved in the conflict. 'With Medvedev, I don't know what his psychological condition is. Maybe he was drunk,' he said. 'Trump is not the person who will be OK with such brutal things said against the president of the United States.' To prove Medvedev and others wrong, Yermak argued, the only thing left for Trump to do is levy the new economic punishments and watch what happens. 3 Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no inclination to stop his 41-month-old invasion. AP 'These first steps will destroy any Russian narrative and some pro-Russian forces which still try to share the narrative that nothing will happen, and that Kremlin and Putin will continue this game,' said Yermak, comparing the attempt to set the narrative to that surrounding the debate over whether then-President Biden should send Ukraine Patriot air-defense systems last year. 'What happened? We received them and the Patriots demonstrated to all the world that it is the best air defense and they destroy any kind of rockets,' he said. 'It's necessary to not believe in Russian propaganda.' Yermak also suggested the sanctions would embolden Russians who already feel the pinch in their wallets to speak out and demand the conflict stop. 'In Russia, it is impossible to control all of the social media, and the people will receive some new information and these sanctions will create a very difficult situation in the Russian economy,' he said. 'It will work together with the huge loss [by Russia] on the front line, and people will start asking Putin more loudly: 'For what did you start all this and why don't you want the war to end?''
