Battle of Gourma-Rharous (2017)

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]