Terrorists took several Malian soldiers hostage in coordinated attacks on military positions in parts of Mali on Saturday, a security analyst, Brant Philip, said.
The attacks targeted Malian army positions in Aguelhok, Gao, Sevaré, Anefis and Kenioroba, Philip wrote in a series of posts on X.
He said the attack was carried out by the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and the Front de Libération de l’Azawad.
Philip also said there were unconfirmed reports of a Russian Africa Corps Su-24 fighter jet crashing near Gao after being shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Anefis.
“Unverified reports that a Russian Africa Corps Su-24 jet was shot down by AA near Anefis and crashed in Gao,” he wrote.
“Heavy smoke rising from the Gao Air Base right now,” he added.
There is no independent confirmation of the alleged crash and no official confirmation from Russian or Malian authorities as of the time of filing this report.
Philip said the Russian Africa Corps were fighting alongside the Malian military to repel the attacks.
“The Africa Corps says it is fighting alongside the Malian army to push back the JNIM/FLA offensive on their positions in Gao, Anefis and Aguelhok,” he said.
Philip also claimed that more Malian soldiers were captured by the FLA in Anefis.
