ORDER OF BATTLE // March 24, 2013
5th Battle of Gao
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
1 sides catalogued · combined 120–160 estimated
Mali
120–160
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The fifth battle of Gao in March 2013 demonstrated the continued capacity of the Malian army to hold the city against MUJAO pressure following the French-led intervention that had pushed Islamist groups from major northern population centers. The ability of a Malian force of 120–160 troops to repel the attack indicated that MUJAO retained offensive intent in the Gao area even as coalition operations sought to consolidate territorial gains, underscoring the persistent insurgent threat to towns nominally returned to government control during the 2013 campaign.
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