2014 Tabankort raid

Between December 10 and 11, 2014, French forces ambushed militants from al-Mourabitoun near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali. The ambush led to the death of Ahmed al-Tilemsi, the founder of MOJWA and a key figure in al-Mourabitoun.

Raid on Tabankort
Part of Mali War
Date December 10–11, 2014 Location near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali Result French victory
Belligerents
France	al-Mourabitoun
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Ahmed al-Tilemsi †
Casualties and losses
None	7 killed 3 captured

Ambush

Following "opportunity intelligence" received by the French army, French forces conducted an operation against a group of jihadists suspected to be active in the locality of Tabankort.^[1][2] The Malian Ministry of Defense stated that French and Malian forces were carrying out a joint operation in the area, but France claimed that Malian forces did not participate; only intelligence and local authorities.^[3] The raid began at dawn, with French special forces ambushing a camp where around fifteen jihadists were gathered. The jihadists tried to fight back, but all were subdued.^[3][4]

Aftermath

The Malian Ministry of Defense stated ten jihadists were killed or captured in the raid, with a follow-up statement detailing seven killed and three captured.^[5][6] Among the dead was Ahmed al-Tilemsi, the emir of MOJWA and a senior figure in al-Mourabitoun.^[7] The French did not report any losses.^[5]

Al-Mourabitoun confirmed Tilemsi's death along with six other fighters in a message given to Mauritanian news agency Alakhbar on January 6, 2015.^[8]