Coordinated Attacks Roil Mali, Deepening Sahel Security Crisis

Mali faced a coordinated, multi-site assault by unidentified armed groups including JNIM and Tuareg rebels, hitting Bamako, Kati, Sevaré and northern towns; the military said it repelled the attack and killed hundreds, with unconfirmed reports that Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed. JNIM claimed responsibility for attacks around Bamako and in the north, and Russian mercenaries were reportedly involved. The episode underscores a deepening security crisis under military rule and highlights tense regional dynamics in the Sahel.