Airstrike in Northern Mali Reportedly Kills 18 Civilians

The Malian Army has reported conducting an airstrike targeting terrorists last Monday in the locality of Lerneb, situated in the northern region of Timbuktu. However, the Azawad People’s Rights Defense Collective, a local human rights association, stated yesterday that the military operation resulted in the deaths of 18 civilians.
According to the collective’s statement, the airstrike hit civilians gathered at a weekly market in Ejdeir, within the area of Lerneb, near Mali’s border with Mauritania. The association described this market as “vital for the survival of impoverished displaced persons,” emphasizing its significance as a lifeline for tens of thousands who recently fled to seek refuge in northern Azawad.
The Malian government has yet to respond publicly to these allegations.

P.A