Al-Qaeda linked group says it carried out huge attack on Mali's army

An al-Qaeda linked group claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on Mali's army in Boulikessi, seizing control of a military base. The group also targeted Timbuktu, indicating a growing security threat in Mali and the Sahel region. The attacks come amid concerns over Islamist militant groups in the region seeking access to West Africa's coastline for smuggling and arms trafficking, with over 400 soldiers killed by militants in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in recent weeks.