The organization "Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims" (Al-Qaeda in the Sahel) has tightened its grip on the historic city of Timbuktu for the fifth consecutive week, focusing its shelling this time on the city's airport, which is operated by the Malian army and Russian Wagner militias.

The continuous shelling on the besieged city and its airport has led to the suspension of civilian flights to and from the city, after the extremist organization bombarded it with a barrage of mortar shells.

On Monday, September 11, 2023, "Sky Mali" airline issued a press statement announcing the cancellation of its flights to and from Gao and Timbuktu (the contested northern region of the country) for this week.

According to the statement: "Due to the security alert issued this morning at Timbuktu airport, it was necessary to cancel the flights to and from Timbuktu. Sky Mali strives to assess the evolving security conditions at the airports it serves on a daily basis. As a precautionary measure, all scheduled flights to and from Gao and Timbuktu for this week have been canceled.”

The airport's closure adds to the city's suffering, following the cutting off of both land routes, which are crucial for the city as trucks carrying goods from Algeria and Mauritania arrive, after a goods truck was burned, as well as the river route through which boats loaded with goods from the south of the country arrive, after a burning incident that resulted in the deaths of about 100 people on a boat last week.

The organization is imposing its control over the city and its outskirts, as well as over vast areas in Mali, amidst a significant failure of efforts to contain or defeat it by Malian and Wagner forces, while the extremist group continues its attacks on Malian army bases to cripple its air capabilities.

Activists have broadcast unverified videos of hundreds of the organization's followers, which activists claim are from the siege of Timbuktu, while the organization, through its media arm "Al-Zalaqa," released images of shelling it said targeted the city's airport.
According to the information received, the organization has completely imposed its control over the historic city, which it previously occupied in 2012.