A targeted operation by the Malian Armed Forces has led to the destruction of two ready-to-use drones amid intensified offensives against armed groups.
Launch sites for kamikaze drones were identified and neutralised on Monday east of Gao by the Malian Armed Forces, following a targeted operation based on human intelligence, the military high command said on Tuesday.
Conducted on March 23, 2026, around 20 kilometers from Gao, the operation was jointly carried out by the PCIAT-East command and Sector 1 of Operation Dougoukoloko. It resulted in the destruction of two explosive-laden kamikaze drones that were ready for deployment.
According to the army, the units involved also discovered around twenty launch pads and personal belongings linked to suspected militants, confirming the site’s recent occupation.
The layout of the installations pointed to a structured system designed to carry out remote attacks against military positions or sensitive targets. Following a secured reconnaissance phase, forces destroyed the drones and associated equipment on site to prevent any future use.
Monday’s operation is part of a broader series of offensives conducted under Operation Dougoukoloko. Between March 14 and 21, Malian forces carried out a large-scale operation in the Kayes region, during which several militant bases were dismantled.
The week-long offensive resulted in the neutralisation of around 40 jihadist fighters, including a senior figure, and the rescue of 12 hostages. Ground forces also seized a significant cache of weapons, ammunition, kamikaze drones, communication radios and more than 3,000 liters of fuel, in addition to recovering three vehicles, including a bus belonging to the SONEF.
The freed hostages received medical care before being reunited with their families.
The succession of these operations underscores the intensification of Malian military actions in response to evolving tactics by armed groups in the north and west of the country, particularly the increased use of airborne weapons, including suicide drones.
MD/ac/sf/lb/as/APA