| Battle of Gourma-Rharous (2017) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |  Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
 5 killed, 10-16 injured None | 16 killed 4 captured | ||||||
| 2 civilians killed | |||||||
The battle of Gourma-Rharous took place on April 18, 2017, between French and Malian forces against an attacking Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.
Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin formed in March 2017 as a merger of five jihadist groups that initially rebelled against the Malian government in 2012. [1] Prior to the attack on Gourma-Rharous, JNIM had launched an attack on Malian forces in Boulikessi. [2]
At five in the morning local time, JNIM fighters attacked the military camp in Gourma-Rharous. [3] At the time of the attack, the city was defended by units of the Malian Army, the Malian National Guard, in particular the 33rd Parachute Commando Regiment. [3] The jihadists divided into two groups, and launched the attack with fifteen men in each group. [4] One of the groups managed to enter the military base, but was quickly repulsed by Malian troops. [4] Fighting then spread to the western part of the city. [4] The attackers seized equipment and two pick-ups, and burned four other vehicles. [4]
Malian authorities then alerted French Barkhane troops, who dispatched several helicopters. [5] French forces intercepted the fleeing jihadists around thirty kilometers from the city, near Tin Ahara. [5] Several jihadists were killed and two pick-ups were destroyed. [6] MINUSMA helicopters were then dispatched to help the wounded, with the most seriously injured soldiers being taken to Gao for treatment. [5] [6]
JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack that same day. [6] French forces claimed the deaths or injuries of ten jihadists. [3] Malian journalists later corroborated the deaths of six jihadists killed during the fighting for Gourma-Rharous, and ten killed and four captured by French forces. [4] Two civilians were killed in the attack, both children. [4]
The Malian government initially released a toll of four soldiers killed and sixteen injured, which was corroborated by the French government. [3] This toll was updated to five killed and ten wounded on the evening of April 18. [7]
Amadou Koufa, nom de guerre of Amadou Diallo, also spelled Hamadoun Kouffa or Amadou Kouffa is a Malian Fulani jihadist and preacher who founded Katiba Macina, later part of Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.
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The Mondoro attack took place on 4 March 2022, when al-Qaeda-linked jihadists attacked a Malian military base, causing heavy casualties.
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Clashes at Inabelbel took place on June 22, 2018, between French and Malian forces against Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.
On June 9, 2018, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked Malian forces in the town of Boni, Mali.
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