The FLA and JNIM launch the war's largest coordinated offensive since 2012: the FLA takes Kidal as government and Russian forces withdraw from the far north, reportedly under negotiated terms; a car bombing at Kati kills Defence Minister Sadio Camara; IS-Sahel seizes the Labbezanga border post. JNIM claims wide gains around Mopti, and reportedly follows with checkpoints on Bamako's approaches.
Why it mattersThe offensive reversed the junta's signature achievement, demonstrated FLA–JNIM operational coordination at national scale, and reached the government's inner circle. It did not settle control everywhere it touched — but it redrew the map of the possible.