In a statement issued early in the morning, the General Staff said "armed terrorist groups targeted certain strategic points and barracks in the capital and in the interior,” adding that defense and security forces were engaged in repelling the assaults and urged residents to remain calm and vigilant.

Witnesses reported two loud explosions and sustained gunfire near the Kati military base outside the capital, a key installation associated with transitional leader Assimi Goita. Roads leading to the base were blocked by deployed soldiers as helicopters circled overhead. Residents near Modibo Keita International Airport described heavy weapons fire before dawn.

"I heard at least two explosions followed by continuous gunfire for several minutes,” said Mamadu Traoré, a shopkeeper living near Kati, speaking to Lamaane News Network. "People stayed inside, and the streets emptied quickly as soldiers moved in.”

Attacks were also reported in northern and central cities, including Kidal, Gao, and Sévaré, indicating a highly coordinated operation. In Gao, resident Aïssata Maïga said, "The shooting started early and did not stop for hours. We could hear both heavy and light weapons.” 

A regional security official, speaking on condition of attribution, confirmed clashes between armed fighters and government forces in multiple locations.

Military officials did not identify the groups responsible, and no organization immediately claimed the attacks. The country has been battling insurgencies linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, alongside longstanding separatist movements in the north.

The violence underscores persistent security challenges facing Mali’s transitional government, which has ruled since the 2021 coup that brought Goita to power. The administration has shifted its international security partnerships in recent years, moving away from Western military cooperation and increasing reliance on alternative allies.

Security analysts say the scale and synchronization of Saturday’s attacks suggest significant planning and coordination. "Simultaneous strikes across multiple regions point to an operational network capable of testing state defenses,” said Ibrahim Coulibaly, a Bamako-based security researcher.

The renewed attacks carry implications for regional stability in the Sahel, where cross-border militant activity remains a major concern. Continued fighting may disrupt civilian movement, commercial activity, and air traffic near the capital.

Authorities said operations were ongoing to secure affected areas and restore order, as residents remained indoors amid heightened military presence.