Battle of Tinzaouaten

On 8 February, MNLA rebels seized the strategic border outpost of Tinzaouaten located on the Algerian borderline. After two days of consistent fighting, the Malian Army was forced to withdraw from its base. Rebels captured 10 soldiers including an officer who was slightly wounded. At least 34 other soldiers fled and went missing in the desert. In a government statement released the following day declared a "strategic withdrawal" from its military base, across the border after rebel attacks left a government soldier dead and two others wounded. Hama Ag Sid'Ahmed an MNLA spokesmen, said rebel forces were in control of the towns two military camps and had seized several armored and other military vehicles. The death of a rebel fighter was deplored.