• A military convoy in northern Mali was ambushed by a coalition of Tuareg rebels and an al-Qaeda-linked militant group, resulting in dozens of Malian soldiers being killed or captured.
• The Malian army conducted air strikes against suspected rebel positions following the ambush, but casualty figures have not been independently verified.
• Despite ongoing military efforts and cooperation with Russia's Africa Corps, Mali continues to struggle with rebel movements and jihadist groups in the north and center of the country.

A military convoy in northern Mali has come under a major ambush, the country's armed forces confirmed, as rebel forces said dozens of Malian soldiers were killed and taken as prisoners.

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the Malian military said a convoy of Malian troops and allied Russian fighters from the Africa Corps had been ambushed earlier in the day near Tabrichat by a coalition of Tuareg rebels from the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and an al-Qaeda-linked militant group.

FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said that dozens of Malian soldiers were killed or captured and that several military vehicles were seized.

Multiple media outlets, citing anonymous military sources, reported that at least 50 soldiers were killed and 24 taken prisoner.

These figures could not be independently verified, and the Malian army has not disclosed any casualty figures.

Instead, the military said its air force carried out strikes against several suspected rebel positions near Tabrichat following the ambush. According to the army, the convoy was able to fight its way through the attack and continue its mission.

Mali has faced a deteriorating security situation for years, with Tuareg rebel movements and jihadist groups operating across large parts of the north and centre of the country.

Despite repeated military offensives and closer cooperation with Russia's Africa Corps - the successor to the Wagner mercenary group - the ruling military junta has so far failed to re-establish full control over large parts of the country.