Gunmen attacked several locations in Mali's capital and other cities early Saturday in a possible coordinated assault, residents and authorities said.
The Malian army said in a statement that 'unidentified armed terrorist groups targeted certain locations and barracks' in Bamako and that soldiers were 'engaged in eliminating the attackers.'
Residents in other cities in Mali reported gunfire and blasts on Saturday morning, suggesting a possible coordinated attack by armed groups.
Residents in Kati, a town near Bamako that is home to Mali's main military base, also said they were woken up early in the morning by the sounds of gunfire and explosions.
Videos on social media showed militant convoys in trucks and motorcycles moving through the town's deserted streets, while residents looked on fearfully.
The U.S. Embassy in Bamako issued a security alert, saying 'there have been reports of explosions and gunfire near Kati and the Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako' and that 'U.S. citizens should shelter in place and avoid travel to these destinations until further information becomes available.'
The assault seems to be the largest coordinated attack in years in Mali, with analysts saying it's especially concerning that al-Qaida affiliated group JNIM apparently has been coordinating today's attacks with Tuareg rebels.
