At least four aerial strikes rocked Kidal overnight, leaving behind material damage, according to a local witness who requested anonymity. One strike demolished a home near the city’s former marketplace, while another gouged a massive crater in the courtyard of the regional governor’s office. These strikes follow the recent recapture of Kidal by the National Liberation Front of Azawad (FLA), an allied force of the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM)—Al-Qaeda’s Sahelian branch led by Iyad Ag Ghaly—on April 25 and 26.
“We are striking specific targets. Our strategy is clear. Expect intensified airstrikes in the coming days,” declared a Malian army officer stationed at the command center in Mopti, central Mali, on Thursday.
Eerie calm grips Kidal
Kidal, a strategic stronghold in northern Mali, remained unusually quiet on Thursday morning. Traffic ground to a near halt, and several residents reported hearing convoys of vehicles leaving the city under cover of darkness.
The country faces unprecedented security turmoil following coordinated jihadist attacks by JNIM and the FLA, targeting key positions held by the military junta in Bamako.
Rebels push deeper into northern Mali
During their latest offensive, the FLA and JNIM seized control of Kidal, the largest city in northern Mali, after intense clashes. The FLA, a predominantly Tuareg separatist movement with Arab communities, claims sovereignty over the Azawad—a vast territory covering the regions of Kidal, Gao, Ménaka, and Tombouctou.
The rebellion has vowed to expand its reach, escalating decades of armed struggle against what it calls systemic marginalization. Kidal remains a focal point in their fight for autonomy.
