BAMAKO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Eight soldiers of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) were left dead and 57 terrorists were killed in violent attacks Friday in the northeast of the country, confirmed the Directorate of Information and Public Relations of the Armed Forces (Dirpa) in a statement released Saturday.
According to the statement, a reconnaissance patrol unit of the FAMa encountered elements of the Armed Terrorist Groups (GAT) riding on motorcycles Friday afternoon in the area of Archam, west of Tessit, which is near the border zone of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso.
The FAMa used airstrikes to help kill columns of motorcyclists who were allegedly trying to encircle the reconnaissance patrol unit, which led to the killings of 57 terrorists, and the deaths of eight soldiers on the side of FAMa.
While praising the Malian soldiers for their courage and bravery, the statement promised that nothing will stop the FAMa in their relentless struggle for the return of peace and tranquility.
Since 2012, Mali has been facing deep and multifaceted security, political and economic crises. Separatist insurrections, jihadi incursions and inter-communal violence have left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands more displaced in this West African country. ■
