Trump Considers Airstrikes on Mali’s JNIM Militant Group

President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the option of launching U.S. military strikes against Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant organization that operates in the Sahel. The Washington Post, citing current and former U.S. officials, says the deliberations are ongoing and that senior officials are divided on whether to proceed. National Security Council senior director for counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka is identified as a vocal advocate for the operation.

The Hill

The push for action follows the lifting of sanctions on Mali’s defense minister Sadio Camara, who was killed in an April attack by JNIM. According to a former official, the administration’s primary objective over the past year has been to secure “overflight” rights that would permit U.S. aircraft and surveillance assets to operate from Malian airspace. The move is framed as part of a broader effort to counter what the White House describes as a multinational terrorist threat emanating from JNIM and ISIS in the Sahel region. If approved, a strike in Mali would become the eighth country where Trump has ordered U.S. attacks since the start of his second term, joining Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Venezuela and Iran.

The Hill

A White House spokesperson told The Hill that the United States is urging North and West African governments to purchase U.S. equipment and services to support their anti-terrorism campaigns.

The Hill

Independent Sahel expert Corinne Dufka warned that a U.S. strike could provoke retaliatory attacks against Americans in the region, arguing that direct involvement might backfire. Her assessment reflects the broader disagreement among senior officials about the potential consequences of expanding U.S. kinetic operations in Mali.

The Hill