Last evening, Monday, August 18, 2025, the city of Timbuktu in the Azawad region was targeted in an attack involving an improvised explosive device (IED). The device detonated near the city’s western entrance and struck a vehicle of the Malian army accompanied by members of the Russian Legion—marking the latest episode in a series of operations against government forces and their Russian allies in recent months.
Local sources reported that the explosion resulted in both fatalities and injuries. Military ambulances rushed to the scene amid a wide security mobilization. Though the transitional authorities in Bamako have yet to release an official toll, sources spoke of direct casualties among the targeted forces, which included both Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries.
Previous Attack Near Goundam
This new attack comes just three days after a similar operation claimed by Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, which occurred on Friday, August 15. That day, a joint military mission of the Malian army and Russian Legion between Timbuktu and Goundam was targeted, as reported by Amakoul TV citing eyewitnesses.
According to these same sources, that earlier attack resulted in four dead—including two Russian mercenaries—and around ten others wounded with varying degrees of injuries, some severe. These included amputations and abdominal wounds. The injured were transferred to Timbuktu’s hospital for treatment.
A Series of Attacks in the North
The consecutive attacks indicate a growing influence of the group in Azawad—particularly in Timbuktu, which has witnessed a security vacuum since the withdrawal of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) last year, followed by increased control of the city by the Malian army with the support of the Russian Legion.
This is not the first deadly attack in Timbuktu this year. On June 1, 2025, the group targeted four military checkpoints across the city, leading to the deaths of over 30 Malian soldiers, and capturing strategic positions along with a significant haul of military equipment.
Observers believe the current escalation highlights significant challenges for the Malian army and its allies in securing vital routes and centers in a region considered a strategic gateway to Azawad, as well as to central, southern, and western Mali.
Alarming Escalation
With attacks occurring in quick succession—on June 1, August 15, and August 18—Timbuktu appears to have entered a new phase of conflict. It now stands at the center of an open struggle between armed groups and government forces, along with their Russian supporters. In the absence of precise official data, the true extent of losses remains unclear, even as local residents brace for the repercussions—facing increased hardship amid rising violence and the degradation of services.
إذا كنت ترغب في تلخيص المقال أو تحتاج إلى ترجمة أجزاء معينة فقط، يسعدني المساعدة حسب احتياجك!
