2014 Tabankort raid

Raid on Tabankort
Part of Mali War
Date December 10–11, 2014 Location near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali Result French victory
Belligerents
France	al-Mourabitoun
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Ahmed al-Tilemsi   †
Casualties and losses
None	7 killed 3 captured

Between December 10 and 11, 2014, French forces ambushed militants from al-Mourabitoun near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali. The ambush led to the death of Ahmed al-Tilemsi, the founder of MOJWA and a key figure in al-Mourabitoun.

Ambush

Following "opportunity intelligence" received by the French army, French forces conducted an operation against a group of jihadists suspected to be active in the locality of Tabankort. ^{[1] [2]} The Malian Ministry of Defense stated that French and Malian forces were carrying out a joint operation in the area, but France claimed that Malian forces did not participate; only intelligence and local authorities. ^[3] The raid began at dawn, with French special forces ambushing a camp where around fifteen jihadists were gathered. The jihadists tried to fight back, but all were subdued. ^{[3] [4]}

Aftermath

The Malian Ministry of Defense stated ten jihadists were killed or captured in the raid, with a follow-up statement detailing seven killed and three captured. ^{[5] [6]} Among the dead was Ahmed al-Tilemsi, the emir of MOJWA and a senior figure in al-Mourabitoun. ^[7] The French did not report any losses. ^[5]

Al-Mourabitoun confirmed Tilemsi's death along with six other fighters in a message given to Mauritanian news agency Alakhbar on January 6, 2015. ^[8]

References

1. "Neutralisation d'un groupe armé terroriste au Mali par une opération conjointe des forces maliennes et Barkhane". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
2. "Mali: l'un des chefs du Mujao et dix de ses hommes "neutralisés" par l'armée française". lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
3. "Mort d'Ahmed al-Tilemsi: les détails de l'opération française". RFI (in French). 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
4. "La France élimine un émir djihadiste malien". Le Figaro (in French). 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
5. "Neutralisation d'un groupe armé terroriste au Mali par une opération conjointe des forces maliennes et Barkhane". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
6. "Mali : la mort d'Ahmed el-Tilemsi, un coup dur pour le Mujao et Belmokhtar - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
7. La-Croix.com (2014-12-11). "La France élimine un important dirigeant djihadiste au Sahel". La Croix (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
8. "Alakhbar | Mali : les forces françaises tuent le chef jihadiste, Ahmed Telmissi". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.