Battle of Timbuktu

Overview

The Battle of Timbuktu occurred in Timbuktu, Mali, in March 2013, between Islamist groups and Mali government forces supported by France.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Timbuktu was part of the broader French-led intervention in Mali that began in January 2013, in which Malian government forces, backed by French military support, moved to retake northern cities held by Islamist groups. Timbuktu had been under Islamist control since 2012, when armed groups including AQIM seized large portions of northern Mali. The engagement at Timbuktu formed one element of the campaign to restore Malian government authority over the north.

Forces & casualties