Bodio ambush
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Bodio ambush
| place = Bodio, Mopti region, Mali
| partof = Mali War
| date = 6 October 2021
| result = JNIM victory
| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Mali}} Mali
| combatant2 = {{flagdeco|al-Qaeda}} Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
| casualties1 = 16 killed, 10 wounded (per local officials and AFP)
9 killed (per Mali)
| casualties2 = 15 killed, 20 motorcycles captured (per Mali)
}}
{{Campaignbox Mali War}}
On October 6, 2021, al-Qaeda-allied jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) ambushed a Malian convoy in Mopti Region, killing scores of Malian soldiers. The ensuing firefight left dozens of jihadists dead.{{Cite web |title=Malian soldiers die in jihadi attack – DW – 10/06/2021 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/several-malian-soldiers-die-in-jihadi-attack/a-59429425 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=dw.com |language=en}}
Ambush
In the late morning of October 6, Malian vehicles passing through Bodio, a small village between Koro and Bandiagara, were ambushed by IEDs. Jihadists waiting nearby then engaged in a firefight with the stunned Malian soldiers.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-07 |title=Mali: seize soldats tués dans une embuscade près de Bandiagara |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20211007-mali-seize-soldats-tu%C3%A9s-dans-une-embuscade-pr%C3%A8s-de-bandiagara |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=RFI |language=fr}} In the following days, the Malian army claimed to have responded "vigorously" with airstrikes and further operations in the area.
Later, the attack was claimed by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-06 |title=Mali : au moins 16 militaires tués dans le centre du pays |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/mali-au-moins-cinq-militaires-tues-dans-le-centre-du-pays-selon-l-armee-20211006 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}
Losses and aftermath
On the evening of the ambush, the Malian government announced a death toll of nine soldiers. However, local officials stated that sixteen soldiers were killed and ten were injured.{{Cite web |title=Several soldiers killed in central Mali attack |url=https://www.trtworld.com/africa/several-soldiers-killed-in-central-mali-attack-50534 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Several soldiers killed in central Mali attack |language=en}} Malian operations after the attack killed fifteen jihadists and captured twenty motorcycles, according to Malian government officials.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{coord missing|Mali}}
Category:Battles of the Mali War in 2021
Category:Battles of the Mali War involving Mali
Category:Battles involving Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Category:Mopti Region in the Mali War
Category:Ambushes of the Mali War
Category:Car and truck bombings in Mali
Category:Car and truck bombings in 2021
Category:October 2021 crimes in Africa
Category:2021 road incidents in Africa
Category:Road incidents in Mali
Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2021