Battle of Timbuktu
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict= Battle of Timbuktu
| partof = the Northern Mali conflict
| image = Airport in Timbuktu.jpg
| caption = Timbuktu Airport
|date = 20–21 March 2013
({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=03|day1=20|year1=2013|month2=03|day2=21|year2=2013}})
|combatants_header=
|combatant1 = {{Flag|France|1974}}
{{Flag|Mali}}
|combatant2 = {{flagicon image|ShababFlag.svg}} MOJWA
|strength1 = Several hundred Malians, 150 French soldiers
|strength2 = 50–100
|casualties1 =
{{Flagicon|Mali}} 1 killed, 8 wounded
|casualties2 = 5–11 killed
}}
{{Campaignbox Northern Mali conflict (2012–present)}}
The Battle of Timbuktu occurred in Timbuktu, Mali, in March 2013, between Islamist groups and Mali government forces supported by France.
On the night of 20–21 March, a group of Islamist militants tried to infiltrate the airport. A car with armed men also tried to break into the city; however, French and Malian forces pushed them back.
Attack
The city of Timbuktu was guarded by the Malian army while about 150 French soldiers guarded the airport. Then, about 50 to 100 Islamists launched an attack from Bamba, west of Bourem, at March 20 at 10:19 pm. A suicide car bomber exploded himself on a road south of the Timbuktu airport. Camouflaged in the colors of the Malian army, the vehicle arrived near a checkpoint held by Malian soldiers. The attack killed one and wounded another two Malians. Shortly after, some 30 jihadists crossed the Mouamar Gaddafi canal and attacked the airport from the east. The shooting lasted several hours before dying out in the evening. Meanwhile, Malian troops were coming out of Timbuktu to help the French, but they crossed another group of jihadists. Three Malians were wounded from friendly fire. The French then asked the Malians to retreat to avoid further fratricide. At 1 am, the French bombarded Jihadist positions, leading them to retreat. The jihadists returned to the offensive the next morning, but after an hour of fighting, and after two attempted suicide attacks, they retreated. The attack was later claimed by MOJAO, but the French claimed that AQIM participated as well. Eight Malians were wounded and one killed, with the French giving estimates of 5 to 11 Jihadist killed.{{cite web|url=http://malijet.com/actualte_dans_les_regions_du_mali/rebellion_au_nord_du_mali/67573-tombouctou-des-jihadistes-stoppes-aux-portes-de-la-cite.html|title=Malijet Tombouctou : DES JIHADISTES STOPPES AUX PORTES DE LA CITE Bamako Mali|author=|date=|website=malijet.com 14 April 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/operations/autres-operations/operations-achevees/operation-serval-2013-2014/actualite/operation-serval-point-de-situation-du-jeudi-21-mars |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-06-09 |archive-date=2018-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612213233/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/operations/autres-operations/operations-achevees/operation-serval-2013-2014/actualite/operation-serval-point-de-situation-du-jeudi-21-mars |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130321-mali-tentative-attentat-dejouee-aeroport-tombouctou-france-terroriste|title=Mali: un mort et plusieurs blessés dans une tentative d'attentat à Tombouctou - RFI|author=|date=21 March 2013|website=RFI Afrique|access-date=14 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/monde/20130321.REU0153/attentat-a-tombouctou-une-dizaine-d-islamistes-tues.html|title=Attentat à Tombouctou, une dizaine d'islamistes tués|author=|date=|website=L'Obs|access-date=14 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130322-attentat-tombouctou-menace-jihadiste-perdure|title=Attentat de Tombouctou: la menace terroriste perdure au Mali - RFI|author=|date=22 March 2013|website=RFI Afrique|access-date=14 April 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/international/mali-deux-morts-lors-de-l-explosion-d-une-voiture-piegee-a-tombouctou-21-03-2013-2658727.php|title = Mali : Une dizaine de jihadistes tués à Tombouctou|date = 21 March 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/terminees/operation-serval-2013-2014/actualite/operation-serval-point-de-situation-du-lundi-25-mars|title=Opération Serval : Point de situation du lundi 25 mars|author=|date=|website=www.defense.gouv.fr|access-date=14 April 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2013/03/22/le-mujao-affirme-avoir-ouvert-un-autre-foyer-de-conflit-a-tombouctou_1852626_3212.html|title=Le Mujao affirme avoir ouvert un "autre foyer de conflit" à Tombouctou|author=|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|date=22 March 2013|publisher=|access-date=14 April 2019|via=Le Monde}}
See also
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Timbuktu, Battle of}}
Category:Battles of the Mali War in 2013
Category:Battles of the Mali War involving France