Mali’s armed forces say they have killed 80 al Qaeda-linked militants following a series of simultaneous and coordinated attacks on military posts in central and western parts of the country.
Officials say the attacks took place in seven towns and cities, near the border with Senegal and further north, close to the frontier with Mauritania.
The army made the statement during a special media report.
However, The Jihadist Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group claimed responsibility for what it called “coordinated and high-quality attacks” and said it had taken control of three army barracks.