Battle for Mali base kills dozens of militants during raid on San base

The Malian army says its soldiers killed about forty jihadists after an attack on a military base in San. The insurgents, linked to the al‑Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM), seized the base briefly before being pushed back.

Army officials denied that the base had been lost, stating that soldiers "retreated temporarily" but fully regained control. At least ten soldiers were reported dead, while the militants used drones and armored vehicles to breach the perimeter.

The assault, which began at about 05:00 GMT, lasted around two hours. Witnesses said attackers entered on motorcycles and some wore army uniforms to infiltrate. The fight spread 200–300 metres outside the base, with some militants fleeing into nearby houses and forests.

The incident comes amid a surge of insurgent attacks since 2012, with JNIM extending its reach into central and southern Mali. The Mali government has since rejected French support, siding instead with Russia.

Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring.