The Malian army carried out an air strike that killed more than 100 terrorists in a forested area of central Mali on Sunday, marking what it described as a significant operation against terrorism in the region, according to an official statement on Monday.

The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) said that during an aerial reconnaissance and surveillance mission on January 25, its “air assets successfully struck” a base belonging to armed terrorist groups. The target was located in the Soussan forest, west of Dioila and southwest of Zantiguila.

“The toll reports more than 100 terrorists neutralised, as well as equipment destroyed,” the statement said.

Mali has faced a prolonged security crisis since 2012, driven by terrorist attacks, particularly in the northern and central regions.

Fuel blockade

The terrorist groups have come under fire for staging a fuel blockade in the country in recent months.

The terrorist groups stepped up retaliatory attacks after authorities banned the sale of fuel outside official stations in rural areas, a measure aimed at disrupting the terrorists' supply chains.