Al-Qaeda–linked JNIM strikes Mali base with drones and armour

JNIM, an al-Qaeda–affiliated coalition, claimed the August 9 assault on Mali's San military base. The army said militants used drones, heavy machine guns, and armoured vehicles to breach the perimeter, killing at least 10 soldiers per AFP. The army reported 40 fighters killed but acknowledged a temporary retreat. Drone use by a Sahel jihadist group, if confirmed, signals a notable tactical shift.