The Battle of In Arab (

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...

:فن السبة) was a two-day-long armed confrontation between a unit of the MNLA and a group of

MOJWA The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (abbreviated MOJWA) or the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (abbreviated MUJWA; ar, جماعة التوحيد والجهاد في غرب أفريقيا ''Jamāʿat at-tawḥīd wal-jih ...

fighters. The battle resulted in an Azawad victory but both sides suffered casualties.

Timeline

On 29 March, Tuareg specialists part of the MNLA (Movement for the National Liberation of Azawad) clashed with jihadists rebels between the cities of

Anefif Anefif or Anéfis is a Saharan village and commune in the Cercle of Kidal in the Kidal Region of north-eastern Mali. Geography Anefif is located on the Tessalit Trail. It lies southwest of Kidal on the route linking Kidal to Bourem and G ...

and

Bourem Bourem is a commune and small town in the Gao Region of northeastern Mali. The town sits on the left bank of the River Niger The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its ...

in Northern Mali, located on the border between the

Kidal Kidal ( Tuareg Berber: ⴾⴸⵍ, KDL, Kidal) is a town and commune in the desert region of northern Mali. The town lies northeast of Gao and is the capital of the Kidal Cercle and the Kidal Region. The commune has an area of about and incl ...

and

Gao Cercle Gao Cercle is an administrative subdivision of the Gao Region of north-eastern Mali. The administrative center (''chef-lieu'') is the town of Gao. During the Northern Mali conflict in 2012, the main Tuareg rebel group, the National Movement for ...

s. According to the MNLA a military unit of the Azawad army clashed with terrorists elements from the

. The battle was said to have lasted all day and left at least two to four fighters from the MNLA and five terrorists dead. However, a Malian security source said the fighting took place around the village of Almoustarat and left 20 dead on the side of the MNLA and two on the Islamists. The MNLA said that the nationality of the jihadists were listed as three Algerians, one Malian and one

Mauritian Mauritians (singular Mauritian; french: Mauricien; Creole: ''Morisien'') are nationals or natives of the Republic of Mauritius and their descendants. Mauritius is a multi-ethnic society, with notable groups of people of South Asian (notably ...

, also one Tuareg was taken prisoner. On 30 March, clashes continued in the afternoon around the village of In-Arab to the north west of Teghboubinene where the previous fighting was said to be held.

Outcome

After two hours of allegedly battling the brigade of the "Signatories by the Blood" led by Mokhtar belMokhtar, the group was defeated leaving at least 17 dead, including five MNLA fighters and around twelve jihadists. Abou Haq Younousse the brigades leader was said to be among those killedhttp://www.za.news.yahoo.com/mali-tuaregs-nine-killed-battle-jihadists-180600943.html

References

2013 in Mali In Arab Kidal Region In Arab History of Azawad March 2013 events in Africa Battles in 2013 {{DEFAULTSORT:In Arab, Battle of