Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully repelled an assault by ISWAP terrorists on a Forward Operating Base Mandaragirau in Sector 2, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers in the early hours of Saturday, 28 March 2026.
Military sources confirmed that the insurgents launched what was described as a half-hearted attack on the base, only to be met with a well-coordinated and deliberate offensive-defensive response from ground troops.
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI provided close air support alongside real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) feedback, enabling targeted kinetic actions that forced the terrorists into a disorderly withdrawal.
Following the initial engagement, exploitation operations along the terrorists’ escape routes yielded further losses.
A total of 38 militants were neutralised, with eight bodies recovered so far from the immediate engagement area.
Human intelligence gathered from local sources confirmed that more than 30 additional bodies, along with weapons, were scattered along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis leading into the Timbuktu Triangle.
Sources said that blood trails and abandoned equipment have provided clear evidence of the scale of the enemy’s losses.
Troops recovered seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) bombs, and assorted ammunition during the operation.
There were no fatalities among the security forces; however, one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was struck by RPG fire. Personnel injured in the incident were promptly stabilised and are receiving medical attention.
The scale of the enemy’s defeat has sparked widespread jubilation among local communities, with residents celebrating the troops’ success.
Military authorities described the outcome as further proof of the sustained dominance of Operation HADIN KAI forces in denying terrorists freedom of action within the region.
Exploitation operations are ongoing along the Garin Mallum–Garin Gajere axis at the fringes of the Timbuktu Triangle, with troops working to recover the remaining bodies of neutralised terrorists and consolidate battlefield gains.
The Military High Command has commended the troops for their gallantry and resilience, urging sustained efforts.
