At least 21 people, including 11 children, have been killed in drone strikes in the town of Tinzaouaten in northern Mali. A spokesperson for a coalition of Tuareg-majority groups, which are seeking independence in northern Mali, confirmed on Monday that the drones targeted a pharmacy and a group of people, leaving dozens injured.

The Malian military confirmed the drone attacks on national television, stating that the “precision strikes were aimed at terrorists.” Tinzaouaten has previously experienced airstrikes, the most recent being in July, when Tuareg-led groups claimed to have killed a large number of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group. The separatists claimed to have killed at least 47 soldiers and 84 Wagner mercenaries in the July attacks, although the military did not verify these casualty figures.

Following the attack, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Moscow’s “steadfast support” for Mali and its armed forces. The military has stated that Wagner fighters are only in the country as “instructors,” assisting with army training.

Rida Lyammouri, a senior researcher at the Policy Center for the New South, a Moroccan think tank, told the Associated Press that Malian forces and Russian mercenaries lack a “strong presence” on the ground in the region, making drones the only means of conducting attacks. “Therefore, aerial bombardments, including those against civilians, are expected to rise as a consequence of the recent major defeat for Wagner mercenaries in northern Mali,” Lyammouri remarked.

Since a military coup in 2020, Mali’s military has struggled for control over the country. In addition to separatists, Mali has been battling armed groups linked to al-Qaeda, which took over during a Tuareg rebellion in 2012. After an eight-year pause in hostilities, fighting between the military and rebels resumed in August 2023. Under Colonel Assimi Goita’s leadership, the military government has distanced itself from its allies, including the former colonial power France, and has turned to Russia, leading to the deployment of Wagner mercenaries.