In a devastating attack in Timbuktu, the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) unleashed heavy gunfire and a bomb-laden vehicle on Mali's military, claiming the lives of over 30 soldiers. This tragic event underscores the alarming rise in violence in Mali, where jihadist groups have increasingly jeopardized regional stability since 2012.