Shahed-Type Drones Filmed During Attacks on Mali Villages
Bellingcat has geolocated and verified footage showing Shahed-136 type kamikaze drones in operation during attacks on two villages in northern Mali: Inafarak on July 12, 2026, and Talahandak on July 17, 2026. The investigation used satellite imagery, social media footage, and expert analysis to confirm the strikes. Experts stated the drones were likely Russian-manufactured, given the presence of the Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps group and broader Russian military support to Mali. The footage provides some of the clearest open-source evidence to date of these drones being deployed in the Sahel conflict. The strike in Inafarak hit a commercial facility, and engine remnants consistent with the Shahed-136 family's MD-550 engine were identified. The report builds on earlier claims by Defence Blog and France 24, providing verified visual confirmation of the drones in flight and hitting targets.
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