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Mali drone strikes kill at least 21 in northern town, rebels say

At least 21 people, including 11 children, were eliminated by drone strikes on Sunday on the town of Tinzaouaten in north Mali, near where the army suffered a. heavy blow last month, Tuareg rebels stated.

Mali had currently carried out airstrikes on insurgent targets. in and around Tinzaouaten shortly after Tuareg and Islamist. fighters eliminated a large number of Malian soldiers and Russian. Wagner mercenaries near the town in July.

The town, situated near the Algerian border, came under drone. attack once again on Sunday, a representative for a rebel coalition. known as the Strategic Structure for the Defence of the People. of Azawad (CSP-DPA) stated in a declaration.

The strikes targeted a pharmacy and gatherings of individuals,. triggering a provisionary death toll of 21 civilians, consisting of 11. children and the drug store supervisor. Lots more were hurt and. there was serious material damage.

The CSP-DPA blamed Mali's army and Wagner mercenaries, and. stated neighbouring Burkina Faso ran the drone.

Mali's army, Russia's defence ministry and Burkina Faso's. military federal government did not respond to requests for remark.

The fighting near Tinzaouaten in late July might be Wagner's. heaviest defeat considering that it actioned in 2 years ago to help Mali's. junta fight insurgent groups.

Tuareg rebels said they eliminated at least 84 Wagner. mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers. An al Qaeda affiliate stated. it had eliminated 50 Wagner mercenaries and 10 Malian soldiers.

Neither Mali nor Wagner have actually said the number of troops they lost,. although Wagner said it suffered heavy losses.

Both Tuareg separatists and jihadist insurgents liked to al . Qaeda and Islamic State operate in north Mali.

The nation has actually been coming to grips with jihadist insurgents. because Islamist groups hijacked a Tuareg rebellion in 2012.

Frustrations over authorities' failure to restore security. contributed to coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger considering that 2020.

Juntas have subsequently cut ties with Western and local. allies, turning instead to Russia.

The separatists, meanwhile, signed a peace contract with. Mali's government in 2015. But CSP-DPA pulled out of talks in. 2022.

(source: Reuters)