More than 30 people were killed in two simultaneous attacks targeting the towns of Kori Kori and Gomosogo in central Mali, marking a new escalation in the violence gripping the country.

Local sources confirmed that the death toll exceeded 35, while security officials reported more than 50 people killed or missing.

Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they targeted pro-government groups.

Meanwhile, the Malian army announced it had conducted an operation against “terrorist groups,” resulting in the killing of several militants.