A security analyst, Brant Philip, said terrorists seized several Malian soldiers in coordinated attacks on military positions in parts of Mali on Saturday.
The attacks targeted Malian army positions in Aguelhok, Gao, Sevaré, Anefis and Kenioroba, Philip wrote in a series of posts on 𝕏.
The attack was conducted by the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and the Front de Libération de l’Azawad, he said.
Philip also said there were unconfirmed reports that a Russian Africa Corps Su-24 fighter jet crashed near Gao after being shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Anefis.
“Unconfirmed reports of AA shooting down Russian Africa Corps Su-24 jet near Anefis, crashed in Gao,” he wrote.
“Heavy smoke rising from Gao Air Base right now,” he added.
There is no independent confirmation of the alleged crash, and no official confirmation from Russian or Malian authorities at the time of filing this report.
The Russian Africa Corps was fighting side-by-side with the Malian military to repel the attacks, Philip said.
“The Africa Corps is fighting alongside the Malian army to repel the JNIM/FLA offensive on its positions in Gao, Anefis and Aguelhok,” he said.
Philip also said that the FLA captured more Malian soldiers in Anefis.