Location Konna, Mali | ||
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Similar Northern Mali conflict, Operation Serval, Battle of Ifoghas, Tuareg rebellion, 2012 Malian coup d'état | ||
The fighting began when rebel fighters disguised as passengers on a public bus infiltrated the town. The bus was stopped at a Malian army checkpoint on the outskirts of Konna. As soldiers entered the bus to search it the Islamists opened fire, killing the soldiers. Additional rebels poured into the town. After several hours of fighting the Malian army was routed to its base, abandoning the town to the rebels and reportedly leaving several heavy weapons and armored vehicles behind. Around 25 Malian soldiers were killed.
An estimated 1,200 Islamist fighters advanced to within 20 kilometers of Mopti, a Mali military garrison town.
Operation Serval
The Islamists' capture of Konna and offensive in Southern Mali triggered the framework of a French military intervention in Mali in support of the Malian government. The rebels were reported to have no viable interest in the town of Konna besides blocking the path of the Malian Army to the cities of Sévaré and Mopti. Therefore, 500 Islamists were reported to have reinforced the rebel force occupying Konna to prepare for the offensive. The Malian army holding up in Sévaré also prepared for the worst, during the day receiving 300 red-beret soldiers of the 33 Paratrooper-Regiment supported by 20 light-armored vehicles. On 11 January, French Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters armed with 20 mm cannons from the Special forces (4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment?) stopped the Islamist column advancing to Mopti. Four Mirage 2000-D jets operating from a base in Chad also conducted airstrikes. 12 targets were hit by the Mirages during the night between the 11th and the 12th. The French chief of army staff, Admiral Guillaud, announced that the Islamists had withdrawn from Konna and retreated several dozen kilometres to the north. The air strikes reportedly destroyed half a dozen Islamist armed pick-up trucks and a rebel command centre. One French co-pilot, Lieutenant Damien Boiteux, was killed after his attack helicopter was hit by ground fire during the operation. The pilot managed to fly the Gazelle helicopter back to base where it was later written off as lost, due to the damaged it sustained.
That night, the Malian army, backed by French troops, claimed that they had taken back control of Konna. The French stated four rebel vehicles were hit by their airstrikes, while the Malian army claimed nearly 30 vehicles were bombed. Several dozens of Malian soldiers and 10 civilians were also killed. Other ranges go as far as 47 or 58 soldiers killed. A Malian lieutenant said that mopping up operations were taking places around Konna. French special forces were also reported to be on the ground. According to analysts, the French were forced to act sooner than planned because of the importance of Sévaré military airport for further operations. However, on 15 January, the French defense minister confirmed that the Malian military had still not recaptured Konna from rebel forces, despite earlier claims that they did.
On 18 January, the Malian army released a statement claiming to have complete control of Konna again. The claim was confirmed by residents of Konna.