In a statement reacting to the attack, the Malian army said it “reacted vigorously” before it “withdrew”, suggesting a tactical retreat. 

An al-Qaeda linked group has claimed responsibility for an attack in the Malian town of Boulikessi that killed over 30 soldiers on Sunday and led to the seizure of an army base. 

Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) said its fighters overran the military camp in a coordinated assault. 

Sources quoted by Reuters reported that more than 30 soldiers were killed, though the Malian authorities have not yet confirmed the casualty figure.

In a statement reacting to the attack, the Malian army said it “reacted vigorously” before it “withdrew”, suggesting a tactical retreat. 

“Many men fought, some until their last breath, to defend the Malian nation,” the army added.

A local source told Reuters that JNIM “cleared the camp” and left many casualties. Unverified videos seen by the agency showed dozens of militants invading the base, with one clip reportedly showing fighters stepping on corpses.

On Monday, JNIM said it launched another offensive in the historic city of Timbuktu, targeting a military airport and Russian mercenaries. Residents reported hearing gunfire and explosions as the assault unfolded.

Military and security sources told AFP that they were “fighting back” but admitted the militants were “everywhere in the city”. A local official said the attackers arrived “with a vehicle packed with explosives” that detonated near the army camp.

Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was captured by Islamist militants in 2012 but was later recaptured. 

However, the city has remained under threat in recent years.

The back-to-back attacks have highlighted the worsening security situation in Mali and across the wider Sahel region. 

They came shortly after the United States Africa Command warned of increased jihadist activity aimed at gaining access to West Africa’s coastline.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, US Africom commander Gen Michael Langley said, “These groups gaining access to the coast will significantly boost their capacity for smuggling and arms trafficking.”

Reuters reports that more than 400 soldiers have been killed by militants since the start of last month in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.