India, April 25 -- Mali awoke to chaos on Saturday as gunfire, explosions and military clashes struck the capital Bamako and several strategic towns in what analysts describe as one of the most coordinated assaults in years. Armed attackers reportedly targeted military barracks, airports and urban positions across the country, exposing the fragile grip of the ruling junta over a nation already battered by more than a decade of insurgency. The scale of the violence, stretching from Bamako to Gao, Kidal, Kati and Sevare, signals a dangerous new phase in Mali's conflict.

Coordinated Attacks Sweep Across Mali's Major Cities

Residents reported heavy gunfire and blasts in at least five major locations as Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal and Sevare. I...