Three soldiers killed in NE Mali explosion

BAMAKO, Aug 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three Malian soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device as they were driving to an airport in the restive northeast, the country’s armed forces said.

  A military vehicle “en route to the airport in Menaka hit an improvised explosive device this Sunday,” the army said on Twitter.

  An unspecified number of soldiers were also injured and stabilised at facilities operated by the multinational Takuba force, a European military unit involved in anti-jihadist operations. The Menaka region, close to the
Niger border, is prey to regular Islamist militant attacks.

  Since 2012, it has experienced a surge in deadly violence from jihadist groups linked to the Daesh group, along with intercommunal clashes.

  Improvised explosives have been used by jihadists operating in the area against Malian, French and other international forces.