Insurgents Ambush Malian Army Convoy Days After Retaking Anefis

On July 18, 2026, JNIM — al-Qaeda's Sahel affiliate — and the Azawad Liberation Front ambushed a Malian army convoy traveling from Anefis to Gao. The army had retaken Anefis on July 10, losing roughly 90 troops. This was July's second major convoy attack in the Gao region. The army reported a counterattack but disclosed no losses.