Alliance of Sahel States launches joint air campaign in Northern Mali
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a military bloc comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, launched a series of coordinated air strikes across Malian territory on May 1, 2026. The strikes targeted positions held by al-Qaeda-linked JNIM militants and Tuareg separatists in the Gao, Menaka, and Kidal regions. This intensified military response follows the recent assassination of Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara and represents the first major joint combat operation by the unified 15,000-strong regional force.