Amaq News Agency: photo reports about ambush and clashes against Al-Qaeda militia

  

Alessandra Ciffo

 

On March 18th, through Amaq News Agency,  the Islamic State published two photo reports showing a series of armed attacks and clashes in different areas in Burkina Faso and Mali against Al-Qaeda militia, which is likely referring to Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) due to its activity in the area.

The first photo report, consisting of 14 images,  represents the confirmation of the attack that happened on March 9th and reported on Nazar[1], in which the IS-Sahel province mujahideen ambushed members of the Al-Qaeda militia near the village of Ousadiya in the Gao province, Northeastern Mali, killing during the fight 16 al-Qaeda fighters, including 4 prisoners.

 

 

 

Through an analysis of the footage released, the ambush was conducted using various weapons, likely Small arms and light weapons, likely guns and rifles, including Technical vehicles  (civilian vehicles, in general, Toyota,  with improvised weapons installation), and four-wheel drive armored fighting vehicles.

 

 

Moreover, as shown in the images above, IS-Sahel soldiers were able to seize different rifles, including AK-103 rifles and Romanian PM MD, 90 rifles, AKM rifles, Chinese Type 56-1 rifles, Type 2 AKS-74 rifles, and an armed vehicle with a W85 heavy machine gun.

The second 4 images' photo report on Amaq News Agency exposes the results of clashes between IS-Sahel and members of JNIM  near the village of Gurgaji, Dori region, Burkina Faso, in which a few JNIM militants were killed and the IS-Sahel mujahideen spoiled different of their equipment, ammunition, and weapons.

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[1] https://nazarbonjuk.blogspot.com/2024/03/allegedly-clashes-occurred-between-jnim.html