A convoy carrying Malian soldiers and fighters from Russia's paramilitary Africa Corps was attacked in northern Mali on Thursday, with separatist fighters claiming responsibility.
The attack comes as fighting has intensified between the two sides since an April operation by the Al Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and the Tuareg-led rebel group the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).
The high profile operation killed the Mali's then-defense minister and struck the capital Bamako's airport.
What do we know about the latest rebel attack?
The convoy was attacked while carrying over 200 Russian fighters and more than 100 Malian soldiers, a security source was cited by the Reuters news agency as saying. It was heading toward the northern town of Anefis, where fighting is reportedly still ongoing.
