Mali: Troops fought off offensive of Northern Mali Tuareg Movement (MTNM)
Mali’s army said Wednesday it had fought off attacks by Tuareg rebels, some of whom recently returned from fighting in Libya and have launched an offensive to seize several northern towns.
Fighting erupted in the towns of Aguelhok and Tessalit in the morning, keeping residents indoors as gunfire was exchanged, a day after the army said it had fought off an attack in the town of Menaka by bombing rebel positions.
“Contrary to what the attackers say, we have forced them to withdraw in Tessalit and Aguelhok,” a military source from the regional army headquarters in Gao told AFP.