At least 50 Malian soldiers were killed and 24 others captured in an ambush targeting a military convoy in northern Mali, marking one of the army’s deadliest setbacks since the country’s conflict began nearly 15 years ago.

The July 18 attack occurred as the convoy travelled from the strategic town of Anefis toward Gao, the largest city in northern Mali. Some of the captured soldiers were reportedly executed at the scene.

The Azawad Liberation Front, known as the FLA, and the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, both claimed responsibility for the assault.

Mali’s military acknowledged that the convoy had been ambushed by armed groups in the Tabrichat area but did not release an official casualty figure. The army later launched retaliatory airstrikes, saying at least 20 fighters had been killed.

Footage circulated after the attack appeared to show soldiers surrendering with their hands behind their heads, along with destroyed and captured military vehicles.

No Russian casualties were officially confirmed. Members of Russia’s Africa Corps supporting the Malian military had reportedly reached Gao before the convoy was attacked.

The convoy had been leaving Anefis following weeks of intense fighting over the strategically located town. Armed groups briefly entered the area earlier in July before Malian forces, supported by Africa Corps personnel, regained control.

The attack reflects growing battlefield cooperation between the Tuareg-led FLA and JNIM. Although the groups have different political and ideological objectives, they have increasingly coordinated operations against Mali’s military government and its Russian allies.

Mali has faced a complex security crisis since 2012, driven by armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State, Tuareg separatist movements and local criminal networks.

The country has been governed by military authorities since coups in 2020 and 2021. The junta promised to restore security and extend state control across Mali, but armed groups have continued expanding their operations.

Malian forces and Russian fighters suffered heavy losses near Tinzaouaten, close to the Algerian border, in August 2024. A month later, a major attack targeted Bamako’s military airport and a gendarmerie training centre, killing more than 70 people and injuring around 200.

Fighting intensified again in April 2026 when the FLA and JNIM launched a coordinated offensive that killed Mali’s defence minister and allowed the attackers to seize the strategic city of Kidal.

The latest ambush highlights the growing strength of armed groups across northern Mali and raises fresh questions about the military government’s ability to contain the insurgency.