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Raid on Tabankort (2014)

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Raid on Tabankort
Part of Mali War
DateDecember 10-11, 2014
Location
near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali
Result French victory
Belligerents
France al-Mourabitoun
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Ahmed al-Tilemsi  
Casualties and losses
None 7 killed
3 captured

Between December 10 and 11, 2014, French forces ambushed militants from al-Mourabitoun near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali. The ambush led to the death of Ahmed al-Tilemsi, the founder of MOJWA and a key figure in al-Mourabitoun.

Ambush

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Following "opportunity intelligence" received by the French army, French forces conducted an operation against a group of jihadists suspected to be active in the locality of Tabankort.[1][2] The Malian Ministry of Defense stated that French and Malian forces were carrying out a joint operation in the area, but France claimed that Malian forces did not participate; only intelligence and local authorities.[3] The raid began at dawn, with French special forces ambushing a camp where around fifteen jihadists were gathered. The jihadists tried to fight back, but all were subdued.[3][4]

Aftermath

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The Malian Ministry of Defense stated ten jihadists were killed or captured in the raid, with a follow-up statement detailing seven killed and three captured.[5][6] Among the dead was Ahmed al-Tilemsi, the emir of MOJWA and a senior figure in al-Mourabitoun.[7] The French did not report any losses.[5]

Al-Mourabitoun confirmed Tilemsi's death along with six other fighters in a message given to Mauritanian news agency Alakhbar on January 6, 2015.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Neutralisation d'un groupe armé terroriste au Mali par une opération conjointe des forces maliennes et Barkhane". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  2. ^ "Mali: l'un des chefs du Mujao et dix de ses hommes "neutralisés" par l'armée française". lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  3. ^ a b "Mort d'Ahmed al-Tilemsi: les détails de l'opération française". RFI (in French). 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  4. ^ "La France élimine un émir djihadiste malien". Le Figaro (in French). 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  5. ^ a b "Neutralisation d'un groupe armé terroriste au Mali par une opération conjointe des forces maliennes et Barkhane". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  6. ^ "Mali : la mort d'Ahmed el-Tilemsi, un coup dur pour le Mujao et Belmokhtar - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  7. ^ La-Croix.com (2014-12-11). "La France élimine un important dirigeant djihadiste au Sahel". La Croix (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  8. ^ "Alakhbar | Mali : les forces françaises tuent le chef jihadiste, Ahmed Telmissi". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.