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Battle of Tinzaouaten (2024)

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For the battle in 2012, see Battle of Tinzaouaten.
Battle of Tinzaouaten
Part of the Mali War
Date25–27 July 2024
Location
Outskirts of Tinzaouaten, Mali
Result CSP-PSD victory
Belligerents

CSP-PSD

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin[1][2]		  Mali
Russia Wagner Group
Commanders and leaders
Alghabass Ag Intalla[3] Russia Anton Yelizarov[4]
Casualties and losses

7 killed, 12 injured (per CSP-PSD)

20+ killed (per Mali)

Mali Dozens killed and injured
Russia 15-20+ killed

Per JNIM:
Russia 50 killed
Mali 10 killed

The Battle of Tinzaouaten was a battle between the Tuareg rebel coalition Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD) and Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) backed by the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group, in the outskirts of Tinzaouaten, near the Algeria–Mali border. The rebels claimed that they killed, injured and imprisoned dozens of Malian and Wagner forces. FAMA claimed that it killed around 20 rebels. Al-Qaeda's Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) also claimed it took part in the battle against the Malian and Wagner forces, but CSP-PSD denied their involvement.[1][2]

If confirmed, it would be the Wagner Group's most significant defeat to Tuareg forces in Mali and one of the deadliest attacks on Russian personnel in Africa since 2017.

Battle

On 25 July at 14:50 GMT, Tuareg rebels ambushed a convoy of FAMA and Wagner personnel from Boghassa heading to Tinzaouaten, killing several of their forces and disabling that a number of vehicles.[5] A rescue helicopter was dispatched to evacuate the wounded. Russian and FAMA forces were forced into a low ground position with little natural barriers while Tuareg snipers were positioned on the high ground. The fighting forced civilians in the commune to evacuate.[3]

Both sides were forced to retreat due to a dust storm in the area, and Algerian border forces increased their presence in the area. The Alliance of Sahel States claimed that FAMA repelled the ambush and inflicted heavy casualties on Tuareg forces during the battle, with the group abandoning the bodies of its fighters.[3]

According to a statement by CSP-PSD on 27 July, Tuareg forces seized armored vehicles, tankers, and trucks during the fighting in the past two days.[6] FAMA said that two of its soldiers were killed and ten others were injured in a rebel attack on 26 July, while 20 rebels were also killed and several vehicles were disabled.[7][8] CSP-PSD also said that it damaged a helicopter, causing it to crash in Kidal. FAMA acknowledged the loss, claiming that the helicopter crashed during a routine mission resulting in no fatalities.[5]

On 27 July, CSP-PSD claimed victory in the battle, saying that it defeated and "annihilated" another Malian battalion supported by Wagner mercenaries, and the few survivors fled or surrendered and were taken prisoner.[5] Malian equipment and weapons were also seized by the rebels, who acknowledged that seven of their fighters were killed and another 12 were injured.[9] A spokesperson for the rebel group said that Azawad fighters took control of the commune and territory further south in the Kidal Region.[10]

Casualties

The amount of Russians killed in the battle is unclear.[11] A former United Nations employee in Kidal said that at least 15 Wagner mercenaries were killed or captured during the battle.[10] According to Baza, a news channel on Telegram with links to Russian security forces, at least 20 Russians were killed.[5] Among the dead reportedly were Nikita Fedyanin, an administrator of the Wagner-linked Grey Zone Telegram channel, and Anton Yelizarov, a commander who led Wagner operations in Soledar and Bakhmut during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Their deaths were not independently verified.[12][4]

JNIM, who also claimed responsibility for the ambush, claimed that 50 mercenaries and ten Malian soldiers were killed after they attacked the convoy with powerful improvised explosive devices.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c James Kilner (28 July 2024). "Dozens of Wagner fighters killed and Russian helicopter destroyed in Mali ambush". The Daily Telegraph.
  2. ^ a b "Mali separatists claim major victory over army, Russian allies". Agence France-Presse. 28 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Tuareg Rebels Ambush Malian, Russian Forces Near Algerian Border". Atlas News. 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  4. ^ a b "Rebels in Mali claim to have killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Russian mercenaries". The Kyiv Independent. 2024-07-28. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  5. ^ a b c d "Mali rebels say they killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Wagner mercenaries in fighting". Reuters. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Russian Wagner Mercenaries Reported Among Those Killed In Fighting In Mali". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  7. ^ "Mali: Rebels say they killed soldiers in restive north". Deutsche Welle. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  8. ^ "Rebel coalition in Mali claims to have killed dozens of soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  9. ^ "Mali rebels claim major victory over army, Russian mercenaries". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  10. ^ a b "Mali army, Russian allies suffer heavy losses in country's north, sources say". Voice of America. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  11. ^ "Dozens of Russian Mercenaries Killed in Attack in Mali". The Wall Street Journal. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Wagner-associated propagandist killed in Mali". Pravda. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
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