Islamic State in the Greater Sahara

IS Claims Attack Against Mali Army That Killed 33 Soldiers Last Monday

The Islamic State group on Sunday claimed responsibility for a deadly attack against the Malian army almost a week earlier that killed 33 soldiers.

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Toll From Mali Attack Blamed on Jihadists Rises to 11

At least 11 soldiers were killed and 11 more are missing after an attack in northeastern Mali blamed on jihadists, the army said, updating a previous toll.

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France Maintains Sahel Force to ‘Decapitate’ Al-Qaeda Groups

President Macron pledged to keep French troops in the Sahel region of western Africa, to help "decapitate" Al-Qaeda-linked insurgent groups that local governments are struggling to hold back.

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How Qaeda-Friendly GSIM Became the Sahel’s Leading Jihadists

The Group to Support Islam and Muslims has emerged as the West's most formidable enemy in the Sahel, taking over from the Islamic State as the region's major threat.

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GSIM Jihadists Claim Killings of French Soldiers in Mali

The Al-Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed two French soldiers in Mali.

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France Opens Door to Talks With Some African Jihadists

France could back talks with some jihadist elements in Africa's restive Sahel region, a source in President Macron's office said on Monday.

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France Said to Plan Cuts in Sahel Force

France is hoping to cut back its military presence in the restive Sahel region to make room for a stronger European commitment, army sources say.

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French Airstrikes Kill Over 50 Qaeda-Linked Jihadists in Mali

The French government said Monday its forces had killed more than 50 jihadists aligned to Al-Qaeda in air strikes in central Mali.

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Niger Attack Raises Stakes for French Forces in West Africa

Six French nationals were among eight people killed in a suspected jihadist attack in Niger on Sunday, raising fresh questions about a massive French troop deployment aimed at bolstering security in West Africa's Sahel region.

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French Aid Workers Among Eight Killed by Gunmen in Niger

Gunmen on motorcycles killed eight people including a group of French aid workers as they visited a part of Niger popular with tourists for its wildlife, officials said.

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