2025 Tessit attack

Beginning in spring of 2025, the al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin launched an offensive against Malian military sites in the south and center of the country.^[1] Attacks on Dioura, Boulikessi, and Timbuktu killed over a hundred Malian soldiers in total.^[2] In the southeast, however, where the ISGS is based, there were few attacks by the group against Malian forces; on May 25, ISGS killed over 50 Nigerian soldiers across the border in Tahoua Region.^[3]

The base was attacked on the afternoon of June 4, with ISGS militants storming the base and sparking clashes with Malian and allied GATIA fighters.^[4] The base was heavily damaged in the assault, and the attackers left with looted weapons and vehicles.^[4] Malian officials confirmed the attack's existence, but only stated that "air patrols had violently struck the terrorist column" in their attempt to withdraw.^[4]

RFI reported that around 40 Malian soldiers were killed in the attack, according to local sources.^[5] Sahel expert Wassim Nasr stated that there were likely over 40 killed.^[5]