BAMAKO, June 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An airstrike targeted a vehicle travelling 
near Mali's border with Niger, killing eight civilians, local and security 
sources said on Tuesday.

The victims were on their way to a weekly fair in Inkadewane, around 50 
kilometres (32 miles) from the region's main town Menaka, when they were hit 
on Friday, a local source said.

Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the strike, but recent weeks 
have seen increased operations by the Malian army and Russian Africa Corps 
auxiliaries.

"All of the passengers, including teenagers, were killed instantly," the 
source said.

A local lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said those killed 
included an official in charge of a vaccination programme at the regional 
Intadeyni health centre.

"It's an absolute tragedy," said the lawmaker, citing Menaka's "huge health 
needs".

The Mali military and its Russian allies have intensified operations 
following large-scale attacks in late April by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM 
group and its Tuareg separatist allies, in which Mali's defence minister was 
killed.

The ruling junta has put in place a slew of security measures, including 
banning the use of motorcycles more powerful than 125 cc outside major 
cities, motorbikes being the preferred mode of transport for jihadist 
fighters.

"Travelling in pickups and on motorcycles has become a major risk for 
civilians in these areas, even more so since the events of April 25," a 
security source told AFP, adding that the population "now fears moving 
outside the main cities to get supplies".

On Monday, Africa Corps, the Moscow-controlled paramilitary group, posted a 
video on its Facebook page claiming to have used a drone to destroy a pickup 
depicted as belonging to "terrorists" it said was "transporting weapons" in 
the Tidermene area.

Also Monday, Human Rights Watch accused JNIM jihadists, their Tuareg rebel 
allies, the Malian army and the Africa Corps of all having committed serious 
abuses against civilians in the wake of April's attacks on the Malian junta.