2018 Timbuktu attack

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = MINUSMA super camp attack

| partof = the Northern Mali conflict

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| date = 14 April 2018

| place = Timbuktu Airport, Timbuktu, Mali

| territory =

| result = MINUSMA victory

| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|United Nations}} MINUSMA

{{flag|Burkina Faso}}
{{flag|Côte d'Ivoire}}
{{flag|United States}}
{{flag|El Salvador}}

| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg}} JNIM

| commander1 =

| commander2 =

| units1 =

| units2 =

| strength1 =

| strength2 =

| casualties1 = {{flagdeco|United Nations}}:
1 killed
7 wounded{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/world/militants-disguised-as-peacekeepers-attack-french-and-un-bases-in-mali/news-story/02e7fedc0e0588b064445b667a72df8a|website=news.com.au|title=Mali: 15 militants killed in Timbuktu attack|accessdate=2018-04-17}}
{{flagdeco|France}}:
7 wounded

| casualties2 = 15 killed

| casualties3 = 2 civilians killed{{cite news |last1=Le Cam |first1=Morgane |title=Attaque à Tombouctou contre les casques bleus et les soldats français |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2018/04/14/mali-des-casques-bleus-blesses-dans-une-attaque-contre-leur-camp-a-tombouctou_5285651_3212.html |accessdate=9 July 2018 |work=Le Monde |date=14 April 2018 |language=fr}}

| notes =

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Northern Mali conflict (2012–present)}}

}}

On 14 April 2018, militants attacked the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) base in Timbuktu Airport, known informally as the "super camp". The JNIM later claimed responsibility for the attack, in reprisal for the deaths of some of their commanders in clashes that occurred about a week earlier.{{cite news |title=Al-Qaida claims responsibility for deadly attack on French/UN forces in Mali |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/al-qaida-claims-deadly-attack-on-french-un-forces-in-mali/2018/04/20/7412b6ee-44af-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420180520/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/al-qaida-claims-deadly-attack-on-french-un-forces-in-mali/2018/04/20/7412b6ee-44af-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2018 |accessdate=5 June 2018 |newspaper=Washington Post}}

Attack

JNIM militants began their attack on 14 April 2018 by launching 11 rockets and mortar shells at the MINUSMA super camp. Two vehicles carrying militants disguised as peacekeepers later approached the camp, one of which exploded inside the base, whilst the other was disabled before it reached troops.{{cite web|url=https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/mali/events/article/mali-attacks-on-minusma-and-barkhane-14-04-18|title=Mali – Attacks on MINUSMA and Barkhane (14.04.18) - France-Diplomatie - Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères|website=diplomatie.gouv.fr|accessdate=2018-04-17}} MINUSMA peacekeepers (in particular from Burkina Faso{{cite journal|journal=Revista Defensa |issue=495–496|date=July 2019|first=Erwan de |last=Cherisey|title=El batallón de infantería "Badenya" de Burkina Faso en Mali - Noticias Defensa En abierto|url=https://www.defensa.com/en-abierto/batallon-infanteria-badenya-burkina-faso-mali|language=es}}) and French troops exchanged gunfire with JNIM militants both inside the camp and outside the perimeter walls, resulting in the deaths of 15 militants and one MINUSMA soldier from Burkina Faso. Seven MINUSMA peacekeepers and seven French soldiers were also wounded.{{cite news |title=Several French soldiers injured in latest Mali attack - France 24 |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20180415-french-soldiers-injured-mali-jihadi-attack-timbuktu-terrorism-touareg-mnla-gsim-aqip |accessdate=5 June 2018 |work=France 24 |date=15 April 2018}}{{cite news |date=16 April 2018 |title=15 militants, one peacekeeper killed in attack on U.N. Timbuktu base: France |work=The Japan Times |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/04/16/world/15-militants-one-peacekeeper-killed-attack-u-n-timbuktu-base-france/#.WtYb-JdyjIU |accessdate=5 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418031756/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/04/16/world/15-militants-one-peacekeeper-killed-attack-u-n-timbuktu-base-france/ |archive-date=18 April 2018}} Four American soldiers protected several civilians at a market outside the camp.{{cite web |last1=Rempfer |first1=Kyle |title=How US troops survived a little-known al-Qaeda raid in Mali two years ago |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/04/16/how-us-troops-survived-a-little-known-al-qaeda-raid-in-mali-two-years-ago/ |publisher=Military Times |accessdate=21 April 2020}}

The four Americans and Malian civilians were eventually extracted by a Quick Reaction Force from Côte d’Ivoire. Two U.S. service members received Purple Hearts medals after being wounded by a car bomb. {{cite web |last1=Rempfer |first1=Kyle |title=How US troops survived a little-known al-Qaeda raid in Mali two years ago |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/04/16/how-us-troops-survived-a-little-known-al-qaeda-raid-in-mali-two-years-ago/ |publisher=Military Times |accessdate=21 April 2020}}

It was later reported that the disabled vehicle had been previously used by Al-Qaeda in previous attacks. An abandoned motorbike with an apparent bomb inside it was also found near the base. The United Nations announced that the attack was repelled and condemned the attack.{{cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1007342|title=UN chief, Security Council condemn deadly attack on peacekeepers in Mali | UN News|website=news.un.org|date=15 April 2018 |accessdate=2018-04-17}}