فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Malian authorities announced on Sunday the killing of the Algerian leader of the Islamic State in the Sahel, known as “Abu Dahdah,” during a military operation carried out by the Malian Armed Forces against an armed group affiliated with the organization in the town of Shaman in northeastern Mali.
According to Malian media, the operation, which took place 38 kilometers from the city of Menaka, resulted in the death of six members, including Abu Dahdah, one of the most prominent foreign commanders within the group. He is believed to have played a key ideological and technical role, especially in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as being involved in attacks along the Niger border.
In a related development, sources reported that another ISIS leader named “Obeil” surrendered to Malian authorities in the town of Tessit, along with ten of his fighters, after operating in the Ansongo area.
These operations are part of an ongoing military campaign targeting the movements of ISIS-linked groups in the Menaka and Liptako regions, which continue to witness intermittent presence of the organization despite repeated strikes.
Menaka and Ansongo remain key strongholds for the Islamic State in the Sahel, which has been engaged in fierce clashes for years with the group “Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin” (JNIM), the local branch of Al-Qaeda. ISIS’s influence has recently waned in favor of its rival, especially in Liptako, due to the loss of popular support.
Despite this decline, the organization retains a notable offensive capability, as demonstrated by the attack that killed 34 Nigerien soldiers in the Banibangou area on June 19, alongside ongoing operations in eastern Burkina Faso.
Security reports warn of increasing coordination between the Islamic State in the Sahel and the West African ISIS branch (ISWAP), potentially paving the way for a new phase of resurgence and resource sharing among extremist factions in the region.
While the elimination of Abu Dahdah and the surrender of Obeil represent significant tactical successes for Malian forces, analysts link the strategic impact of these operations to the state’s ability to consolidate stability in terrorism-affected areas.
