Mali: British troops using mini UAVs which are deployed from grenade launchers

(Mali) The British have recently deployed the Light Dragoons and Royal Anglian Regiment in support of French led Operation Barkhane, its regional counter-terrorism effort in the region. 

One interesting snippet that has come out in the wash is that the British troops have been equipped with a mini drone which is deployed from a 40mm grenade launcher:

 

Drone 40 was created by Melbourne-based defence technology firm DefendTex as a solution to the problem of a range disparity between the infantry weapons carried by Australian infantry, which are accurate to about 500 meters, and the AK-74s carried by adversaries, which can reach out to 800 meters but not one that required changing the gun or adding a lot more weight to what soldiers were already carrying. in a nutshell,  Drone 40 is a multi purpose UAV able to be fitted out to a spy in the sky or a loitering munition, which can be remotely disarmed allowing the drone to land inert for later recovery. 

In spy mode, the drone’s video streaming can transmit 10 km over direct line of sight. with the ability to record video and retransmit it when it comes within range, or it can take still images. Using GPS, the drone can follow a waypoint plotted course to a target, or it can use its own synthetic aperture radar to identify and track a target

Mali: 2 French soldiers killed

(Bamako) 2 French soldiers were killed and another injured when their vehicle was hit by an IED in northeastern Mali, just days after three others died in similar fashion.

The killed soldiers, Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loic Risser, were on a reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering mission in the eastern region of Menaka when the blast occurred, the joint chiefs of staff said in a statement. Huynh, 33, was the first woman soldier sent to the Sahel region since the French operation began. Risser was 24 and both were members of a regiment specialising in intelligence work.

Sergeant Yvonne Huynh (left) and Brigadier Loic Risser, 

Mali: 3 French soldiers killed in IED atatck.

(Bamako) On Monday, 3 French soldiers on peacekeeping duties in the African country of Mali were killed when an IED was detonated as their vehicle went by. Thus bringing the death toll of French soldiers  since the launch of Operation Barkhane in 2013, to 47 French soldiers .

Profonde tristesse à l'annonce des décès du BCH Tanerii MAURI, du 1CL Dorian ISSAKHANIAN et du 1CL Quentin PAUCHET, engagés dans l’opération #Barkhane et morts au combat. Pensées émues de toute l’@armeedeterre pour leur famille, leurs proches et leurs camarades du #1RCH. pic.twitter.com/nA7kxCoOZq

— Chef d'état-major de l'armée de Terre (@CEMAT_FR) December 28, 2020

Mali: Whilst the world shuts down over COVID 19. Islamist's murder 29 soldiers.

(Tarkint) So whilst everybody and his dog across the world shut down and self-isolate over the latest bug to come out of China.  Jihadists in Mali decided to defy common sense logic and decided to launch an attack on an army base on Thursday killing 29 soldiers in the process.

Mali: French Soldier killed after vehicle hits roadside bomb

(Menaka)  Corporal Ronan Pointeau part of the French  contingent of Operation Barkhane  was killed today after the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by a roadside Improvised Explosive device (IED)

Islamic State has claimed responsibility , however that said they do have a habit of putting their hand up for everything and anything.

Mali: Friday death kill sees 50+ murdered in terrorist attack

(Indelimane)  As mentioned before, Friday is the Islamic holyday and some are led to believe that if they carry out an act of terror in the name of allah then they will be guaranteed a spot in heaven . This kind of explains why so many acts of Islamic based terror are carried out on a Friday. And yesterday was no different.

In the north east of Mali a military outpost  was attacked resulting in 53 soldiers and 1 civilian killed . As is always the case nobody has admitted to carrying out the attack and as usual most western media outlets haven’t even bother reporting this, but rest assured if a soldier looks funny at a terrorist with blood dripping off his hands the same media backed up by human rights groups will scream foul play.

Mali:al Qaeda affiliate says sorry for blowing up bus and murdering 14 people.

(Douentza) On the 3rd of September a passenger bus carrying 60 people hit a land mine killing 14 and injuring 24 others just outside the town of Douentza

#AUJOURD'HUI
Un bus de transport en commun a heurté une mine à une trentaine de kilomètre de la ville de Douentza, dans la région de Mopti. L’explosion a coûté la vie à au moins 8 civils et plusieurs autres blessés
Source: Journal nordsud pic.twitter.com/0HaLxVzvs6

— 🇲🇱 L'œil du Mali 🇲🇱 (@arma_har) September 3, 2019

Today Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) – an affiliate for al Qaeda put their hand up and admitted that it planted the landmine that killed 14 civilians claiming that it was intended to target French troops. And it had not intended to attack the bus and offered its condolences and sympathy to the relatives of those killed.

Oh I suppose that makes it alright then.

Mali: Gunmen attack village kill 41

(Central Mali) It never rains in Africa when it comes to murder, death, kill, rather it simply pours. Monday evening saw the latest deluge of death when around 100 gunmen on motorbikes descended on two villages (Yoro and Gangafani) and carried out a mass killing in which is presumed to be a reprisal attack in the ongoing feud between two different ethnic tribes. 

The tit-for-tat violence in recent months has largely pitted Dogon hunters against Fulani herders. Attackers believed to be Fulani raided a Dogon village last week, killing at least 35 people. The victims of Monday’s raids were mostly ethnic Dogons.

Mali: Harbin Z-9A Helicopter crashes whilst preparing for national celebration day

(Kati) It all went wrong on Saturday morning as the Malian military trained for their national celebration day which was scheduled for Sunday. When the pilot of a Chinese Harbin Z-9A operated by Mali misjudged his landing.

Thankfully nobody was killed, however the 2 man crew were injured.

Mali: Hours before normalising relations with Israel, Terrorists attack Chad UN Base, killing 8

(Aguelhoc) Hours before Chad and Israel renewed diplomatic ties, Islamic terrorists struck a UN base in the north of Mali manned by Chadian UN troops, killing 8 and injuring 7. The attack happened early Sunday at the Aguelhok base 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Kidal and towards the border with Algeria

You'd think that any military commander based in a country beset with Islamic terrorists whose own country was smoking the pipe of peace with Israel would have increased security if only for a short while, because as the world has seen time and time again, these blood thirsty idiots who work out of Alis snack bar, require the least excuse going in which to go out on a murderous killing spree, whilst foaming at the mouth.

Mali: French airstrikes kill 15 terrroists in Mali

(Bamako) The French Government has revealed that they carried out a airstrike on a group of armed terrorists on the 10^th of January as they congregated together prior to making an attack in the Dialloube area of the country.

The strike saw the attack thwarted and the deaths of 15 armed religious thugs. French troops are based in the African country as part of Operation Barkhane, which targets Islamist terrorists in Chad, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.  

Mali: 34 killed in terrorist attacks

(Bamako)  At least 34 people were killed on Thursday when armed men,  on motorcycles, raided two Touareg villages in eastern Mali,  These latest attack near the province of Menaka is simply a continuation of ongoing conflicts among hostile tribes.

The latest attack near the province of Menaka is only a continuation of ongoing conflicts among hostile tribes.

Mali: Gunfight leaves 11 terrorists dead

(Segou) On Sunday, a Malian army patrol in the central part of the country was ambushed by a bunch of jihadists intent on wreaking the elections set to take place next Sunday.  Unfortunately for the soldiers of Allah, the men they had ambushed were not only better armed, but better trained, resulting in 11 terrorists being killed, on the Government side 1 soldier was killed.  

On Friday, near the border with Niger, armed terrorists decided to attack a village killing 20 people simply because they can.

Mali: Car bomb attack on French convoy kills 4

(Gao)  A car bomb was rammed into a French military convoy consisting of 2 vehicles carrying 30 soldiers belonging to the French counter-terror force Barkhane in the northern Malian city of Gao, killing at least four people, (2 French soldiers and 2 civilians.) The detonation of the VIED was followed by a sustained gun attack by Islamic terrorists. Both French military vehicles were destroyed.

This attack comes just 2 days after a suicide attack on the Mali headquarters of a regional Sahel force known as G5 killed two soldiers and a civilian.

Ramadan Death Count: Mali: 15/06/18

(Bamako) Mali's government says the army has killed at least 10 terrorists  after they attacked a village in the central Mopti region. Minister of Defense Tiena Coulibaly stated that the armed forces on Tuesday also recovered weapons, explosive devices and other materials.

Ramadan death toll stands at 1894

Ramadan Death Count: Mali: 28/05/18

(Talataye) 20 people were killed in a terrorist attack in north-eastern Mali near the border with Niger.

The assailants took advantage of the weekly Talataye fair— where Saturday’s attack took place — arriving in three vehicles and on a motorcycle and proceeded to open fire on the locals killing 20 in the process.

Ramadan death toll stands at 504

Ramadan Death Count: Mali: 22/05/18

(Mali) Well its that time of year again where the faithful spend an entire Luna month reading the Koran, abstaining from bad thoughts, food, and of course killing people. Which is why on Sunday armed gunmen who targeted a lone soldier in the Northern town of Boulekessi resulted in 12 other people getting killed.

Happy Ramadan everyone.

Ramadan death toll stands at 12

Mali : Attack on French troops see's 15 terrorists, one peacekeepers killed

(Timbuktu)  Islamic terrorists, who struck a UN base on Saturday, picked the wrong place when 15 of the attackers were killed.

Terrorists began their 4 hour attack on the at the international troops’ “Super Camp” neighbouring Timbuktu’s airport with the customary car bomb attack this they tried to follow up by launching a ground assault using men dressed as UN troops. However it appears French troops were on alert due to the attacks on Syria  and repulsed the 4 hour attack  killing 15 of the attackers , for the sad loss of 1 UN soldier and several French troops killed.

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#Mali: Photo of the covert VBIED disguised as #UN vehicle which failed to detonate or taken out of action amidst today's attack against #Timbuktu Airport which harbors both #Barkane forces and #MINUSMA peacekeepers pic.twitter.com/tSx05S2LSx

— MENASTREAM (@MENASTREAM) 14 April 2018

Mali: French, Malian troops kill 30 terrorists

(Bamako) Thirty Islamic terrorists were killed in a gunfight with French and Malian troops near Mali's border with Niger.

French commandos and Malian forces began a "reconnaissance and control operation" in the Akabar region on the 28 March, working in liaison with the Nigerian army and a local self-defence group. On the 1st  April, they were bumped by the Jihadists estimated to number around 60 idiots, around 90 kilometres south of Menaka and three kilometres from the Nigerian border.Whilst Malian forces sustained "losses" there were no French casualties. However the jihadists lost over half their number in the gun fight.

Mali: 2 UN peacekeepers killed in Mali

(Bamako) Two UN peacekeepers were killed and a dozen injured Thursday in a mortar attack on a UN mission’s camp at Aguelhok in the Kidal region , north-eastern Mali. A press statement by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization .(MINUSMA) stated:

"According to preliminary estimates, two blue helmets were killed and ten others injured, some of them seriously, in an attack”