At least four airstrikes targeted Kidal during the night between Wednesday and Thursday, causing significant material damage as reported by a local witness who requested anonymity. One strike demolished a residence near the city’s former marketplace, while another left a deep crater in the expansive courtyard of Kidal’s governorship building—a facility seized by the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA) in late April. The rebel group has allied itself with the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), Al-Qaeda’s Sahelian affiliate led by Iyad Ag Ghaly.

«We are focusing on high-value targets. Our operations follow a clear strategy. Expect intensified strikes in the coming days,» stated a Malian army officer stationed at the command center in Mopti, located in the country’s central region.

Tense calm in Kidal after nighttime bombardment

Kidal, a critical northern Mali stronghold, remained eerily quiet on Thursday morning with minimal vehicle traffic. The witness noted hearing numerous vehicles evacuating the city throughout the night.

Mali’s security landscape has grown increasingly volatile following unprecedented coordinated attacks by JNIM fighters and the FLA rebellion against strategic positions controlled by Bamako’s ruling junta.

FLA’s expansion across northern Mali’s key cities

During their recent offensive, the rebels and JNIM captured Kidal—the largest city in northern Mali—after intense clashes. The FLA, a predominantly Tuareg separatist movement with Arab community involvement, claims sovereignty over the Azawad territory in northern Mali.

The rebel alliance has vowed to capture additional major northern cities. The Azawad region, as defined by the FLA, encompasses the administrative zones of Kidal, Gao, Ménaka, and Tombouctou. Tuareg communities have waged decades-long armed struggles, citing systemic marginalization, with Kidal emerging as a focal point for their resistance.