The city of Tessalit, in Azawad, experienced a new military escalation this Monday, August 25, 2025, around midday, with the announcement by official sources from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) of a strike targeting the Amachach military camp, occupied by the Malian army and the Russian mercenaries of Africa Corps.
According to consistent local sources, the attack took place at precisely the moment when a military helicopter was arriving to evacuate the wounded and the dead from a previous strike carried out on Saturday, August 23, by Azawadian drones against a joint meeting of the Malian army and the Russian Corps inside that camp. That earlier attack had already resulted in deaths and injuries among both groups.
Witness accounts from the scene indicate that the helicopter was directly hit during the bombing, causing significant smoke inside the camp, and leading to additional casualties—though an official toll has not yet been publicly released.
Continued Escalation in Azawad
This attack is part of a series of targeted operations carried out in recent weeks by Azawadian drones against sensitive positions of the Malian army and the Russian Africa Corps at various military sites across Azawad. Among the targeted areas were Tessalit, Aguelhok, Léré, Goundam, and Timbuktu.
Observers suggest that the multiplication of these strikes demonstrates the evolving military capabilities of the Azawad Liberation Front, notably in the drone domain, which enhances its ability to penetrate the defenses of the Malian army and the Russian Corps while inflicting direct losses on their ranks.
Political and Military Messages
Analysts believe the intensification of these operations reflects the Azawadians’ determination to assert their military and political presence on the ground, amidst a severe crisis in Mali and the growing involvement of foreign interventions through the Russian Africa Corps. This escalation is also expected to increase tensions in the region, elevating pressure on the Malian occupying forces and their Russian allies.
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