| Conflict: | Raid on Tabankort |
| Place: | near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali |
| Partof: | Mali War |
| Date: | December 10-11, 2014 |
| Combatant1: | France |
| Combatant2: | al-Mourabitoun |
| Commander1: | Unknown |
| Casualties1: | None |
| Casualties2: | 7 killed 3 captured |
| Result: | French victory |
Between December 10 and 11, 2014, French forces ambushed militants from al-Mourabitoun near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali. The ambush led to the death of Ahmed al-Tilemsi, the founder of MOJWA and a key figure in al-Mourabitoun.
Following "opportunity intelligence" received by the French army, French forces conducted an operation against a group of jihadists suspected to be active in the locality of Tabankort.[1] [2] The Malian Ministry of Defense stated that French and Malian forces were carrying out a joint operation in the area, but France claimed that Malian forces did not participate; only intelligence and local authorities.[3] The raid began at dawn, with French special forces ambushing a camp where around fifteen jihadists were gathered. The jihadists tried to fight back, but all were subdued.[4]
The Malian Ministry of Defense stated ten jihadists were killed or captured in the raid, with a follow-up statement detailing seven killed and three captured.[5] [6] Among the dead was Ahmed al-Tilemsi, the emir of MOJWA and a senior figure in al-Mourabitoun.[7] The French did not report any losses.
Al-Mourabitoun confirmed Tilemsi's death along with six other fighters in a message given to Mauritanian news agency Alakhbar on January 6, 2015.[8]