Bamako: The Malian armed forces repelled a car bomb attack in the east of the country, the Malian aBamako news portal reported on Wednesday.
According to Mali’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, the attack took place in the town of Bourem on Tuesday morning and was carried out by a group of terrorists on cars and motorcycles, the news portal said.
The Malian armed forces conducted two more operations against terrorists on the same day near Bourem, the report added.
In total, after carrying out three operations near Bourem, the armed forces have neutralized 46 terrorists, including three commanders, and have destroyed 20 cars, including armed automobiles.
An armed conflict between government forces, militants of separatist movements and Islamist groups began in Mali in 2012 and is still ongoing. Over a decade of violent clashes in the country has resulted in continued insecurity, climatic shocks, massive displacements and a catastrophic humanitarian situation. The United Nations estimates that around 8.8 million people in Mali need humanitarian assistance.