UAV event in Mali on Wed 18th February 2026

Mali 🇲🇱 | On February 18th, around 1 PM, a convoy composed of Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), Russian mercenaries 🇷🇺 from the Africa Corps, and Tuareg scouts from GATIA was targeted in two attacks by the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and JNIM, based near Aguelhok (Kidal).

🔹 The FLA claims to have attacked the convoy using two FPV drones, while JNIM claims that the convoy vehicles struck an IED they had planted.

🔴 According to initial reports, at least six GATIA members were killed by the explosions.

🔵 Damage is visible on three vehicles in the convoy, which were abandoned at the scene (📷 inset).

⚠️ During the attack, due to operator error, the drone exploded, killing two members of the FLN, including Mohamed Ag Intalla (📷 inset) and Alizahid Ag Mahmoud, and wounding two others.

ℹ️ Mohamed Ag Intalla is the son of Al-Ghabass Ag Intalla, the FLN commander who led the Tinzaouaten attack, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 80 Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group (formerly known as the Africa Corps).