Nigeria, April 25 -- A coalition of jihadist and separatist forces, on Saturday, launched a coordinated offensive across Mali, striking strategic military and urban targets from the north to the capital, Bamako, in one of the most significant escalations in recent months.

The military in Mali confirmed the attacks in a statement, saying the terrorists "suffered immediate setback" and many of them were "neutralised."

Fighters from Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)-an al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel-and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg-dominated rebel alliance, are reported to be behind the attacks, which appear to have been synchronised across multiple fronts.

In the capital region, gunfire and explosions were repor...