At least 100 Malian soldiers and five Russian mercenaries have been killed in a large-scale jihadist attack in Mali, according to the latest reported toll. The assault is attributed to the GSIM (Groupe de Soutien à l'Islam et aux Musulmans), an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist coalition active across the Sahel region, which has been intensifying major offensives in central Mali. The scale of the losses underscores the deepening security crisis facing Mali's military junta, which has relied heavily on Russian Wagner Group fighters after expelling French forces in 2022.