Battle of Ber (2018)

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Battle of Ber (2018)
Part of Mali War

The MINUSMA camp at Ber in December 2017
DateOctober 27, 2018
Location
Result MINUSMA-Burkinabe victory
Belligerents

MINUSMA

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Strength
~100 80
Casualties and losses
2 killed
11 injured
2+ killed

The battle of Ber took place on October 27, 2018, after Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) militants attacked a MINUSMA base manned by Burkinabe soldiers in Ber, Mali.

Battle[edit]

At 5:30 am, several pickups armed with rocket launchers, machine guns, or VBIEDs, attacked the MINUSMA camp in Ber, which was defended by the 1st and 6th companies of the Badenya Battalion.[1][2] One of the suicide-bombing vehicles made it inside the camp, killing two peacekeepers.[3] After reaching the base, JNIM militants attacked on foot, but were repulsed by the MINUSMA contingent.[2] Afterwards, the Burkinabe peacekeepers chased after the militants.[4]

On October 29, JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack, and claimed 80 militants were involved including two suicide bombers.[5][6]

Aftermath[edit]

The United Nations stated that two peacekeepers were killed and several injured in the battle. The Burkinabe army corroborated this, stating two soldiers were killed and five wounded.[7][1] A December 28, 2018 report from the UN updated the toll, stating two killed and eleven injured.[8][4] The hospital in Ber stated that JNIM had an unknown amount of victims, including children.[2]

Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the head of MINUSMA, deplored the attack.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c AFP (2023-08-26). "Mali: les Casques bleus victimes de deux attaques ce samedi". La Libre.be (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  2. ^ a b c "Mali: deux casques bleus tués dans une attaque dans le Nord". RFI (in French). 2018-10-28. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  3. ^ United Nations Security Council (December 28, 2018). "Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Mali" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Mali: Two peacekeepers dead after dawn attack, several injured – UN Mission | UN News". news.un.org. 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  5. ^ "Mali : un groupe djihadiste revendique l'attaque contre les casques bleus à Tombouctou". french.peopledaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  6. ^ "Mali: Nusrat al-Islam claims Ber attack in Timbuktu". al-Akhbar. October 29, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Tombouctou : Cérémonie d'hommage aux deux Casques bleus Burkinabé tombés à Ber". kibaru.ml (in French). 2018-11-03. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  8. ^ "United Nations Photo - MINUSMA Head Visits Ber, Inspects Site of October Attack". dam.media.un.org. Retrieved 2023-08-27.