The Mauritanian Army recently destroyed a camp of the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI) in Mali in an assault which left four soldiers wounded, according to sources. The attack in the forest region of Wagadou in western Mali involved air strikes and that the terrorists struck back with heavy arms.

Earlier in June, Mali and Mauritania agreed to lead a joint military operation to thwart Al-Qaeda’s north African offshoot. AQIM members have been regularly spotted in the region, suggesting it has become a base for the group.

Mali and Mauritania have previously expressed concerns about the activities of the group along with Nigeria and Algeria. The outfit has several bases in Mali from where it launches operations in the Sahel desert region, carrying out attacks, kidnapping foreigners and trafficking drugs.