Human Rights Watch said in a report published on 19 October that the jihadist group JNIM (an al-Qaeda-linked coalition active across the Sahel) confirmed its fighters executed Malian soldiers at Tabrichat, near Gao, after a 18 July convoy ambush; at least 19 of about 50 soldiers killed were tortured and executed after surrendering. JNIM said it had not ordered the killings but did not consider punishment necessary. The rights group also accused Mali's army and Russia's Africa Corps of killing or wounding dozens of civilians in recent drone strikes and ground operations, and urged the African Union to monitor all parties and hold a special session on protecting civilians.