On 14 April 2018, militants attacked the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali ( MINUSMA) base in

Timbuktu Airport Timbuktu Airport is an airport in Timbuktu, Mali that opened on April 15, 1961. Airlines and destinations The start of Sky Mali's service to Timbuktu in February 2021 marked the first commercial flights to the airport since the city was captur ...

, known informally as the "super camp". The JNIM later claimed responsibility for the attack, in reprisal for the deaths of some of their commanders in clashes that occurred about a week earlier.

Attack

JNIM militants began their attack on 14 April 2018 by launching 11 rockets and mortar shells at the MINUSMA super camp. Two vehicles carrying militants disguised as peacekeepers later approached the camp, one of which exploded inside the base, whilst the other was disabled before it reached troops. MINUSMA peacekeepers (in particular from

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. It covers an area of 274,223 km2 (105,87 ...

) and French troops exchanged gunfire with JNIM militants both inside the camp and outside the perimeter walls, resulting in the deaths of 15 militants and one MINUSMA soldier from

. Seven MINUSMA peacekeepers and seven French soldiers were also wounded. Four American soldiers protected several civilians at a market outside the camp. The four Americans and Malian civilians were eventually extracted by a Quick Reaction Force from Côte d’Ivoire. Two U.S. service members received Purple Hearts medals after being wounded by a car bomb. It was later reported that the disabled vehicle had been previously used by

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in previous attacks. An abandoned motorbike with an apparent bomb inside it was also found near the base. The

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

announced that the attack was repelled and condemned the attack.

References

Timbuktu attack, 2018 Battles involving Burkina Faso Battles of the Mali War involving France Battles involving El Salvador Military history of Ivory Coast Battles involving Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin Battles involving the United States United Nations operations in Mali Timbuktu 2018 April 2018 in Mali April 2018 crimes in Africa Terrorist attacks on airports in Africa Terrorist incidents in Mali in 2018 Islamic terrorist incidents in 2018 Islamic terrorism in Mali Attacks on military installations in 2018 2018 building bombings Building bombings in Mali Suicide car and truck bombings in Mali Suicide bombings in 2018 Car and truck bombings in 2018 Attacks on military installations in Mali {{Mali-stub