Battle of Konna

Battle of Konna
Part of the Northern Mali conflict
Date 10–18 January 2013 (1 week and 1 day) Location Konna, Mali Result Malian/French victory Islamists capture Konna and hold it for a week Islamist advance is halted by French air-strikes Malian army retakes Konna Beginning of French-led intervention in Mali
Belligerents
Mali  France	Islamists groups: Ansar Dine MOJWA AQIM
Commanders and leaders
Dioncounda Traoré François Hollande Jean-Yves Le Drian	Iyad Ag Ghaly Omar Ould Hamaha Abdel 'Kojak' Krim † Hammadoun Kufa
Strength
2,000 Malian Army soldiers, 30 armored vehicles 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment 100 French Special Forces 4 Gazelle helicopters 1 Tiger helicopter 6 Mirage 2000D fighter jets	Estimated 1,200 fighters 300 vehicles
Casualties and losses
58 soldiers killed (civilian/military estimate) 1 pilot killed, 1 helicopter lost	46–100 dead ~50 vehicles destroyed
15 civilians dead Total: 149 killed overall

Malian/French victory

Mali

Islamists groups:

2,000 Malian Army soldiers, 30 armored vehicles

4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment

58 soldiers killed (civilian/military estimate)

The fighting began when rebel fighters disguised as passengers on a public bus infiltrated the town. The bus was stopped at a Malian army checkpoint on the outskirts of Konna. As soldiers entered the bus to search it the Islamists opened fire, killing the soldiers. Additional rebels poured into the town. After several hours of fighting the Malian army was routed to its base, abandoning the town to the rebels and reportedly leaving several heavy weapons and armored vehicles behind. Around 25 Malian soldiers were killed.

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