Mali’s FLA rebel group claims to have shot down an army helicopter using a drone, but the military has denied this assertion, stating they intercepted a terrorist drone. The FLA, formed from various Tuareg groups, has shifted tactics and alliances, increasingly looking to Russia for support while denying any assistance from Ukraine.
The Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA) rebel group announced that they used a drone to down a Malian army helicopter in the Kidal region. However, the Malian military has not confirmed this claim. They reported intercepting a drone used by terrorists that was allegedly attempting to observe a helicopter in the area on February 11, without mentioning any helicopter being shot down.
Malian military officials stated the intercepted drone was recovered near the Tessalit airport, and confirmed that their helicopter completed refueling and successfully returned to base. FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane refuted the military’s claims, asserting, “We did shoot down the army helicopter with our drones.”
Following a defeat in Kidal, where they faced Russian mercenary support, the FLA retreated northward. Previously, they executed attacks that resulted in significant casualties among Malian soldiers and Wagner Group fighters. Ukrainian military official Andriy Yusov hinted that information from Kyiv supported the rebels’ operations; however, Ukraine denied both intelligence aid and drone supply to the FLA.
The FLA was established from a merger of several Tuareg groups focused on claiming territory in northern Mali. Since their rise to power, Mali’s military junta has shifted alliances away from France and the EU, increasingly collaborating with Russia for military and political support.
The claim by Mali’s FLA that they downed an army helicopter has not been confirmed by the military. The interplay between the Malian military and rebel forces, supported by various foreign influences, continues to complicate the conflict in the region. The situation highlights a shifting dynamic in alliances and military strategies in Mali, especially with the growing influence of Russian support.
Original Source: thedefensepost.com
