Russian Air Force Su-24 Shot down

On 4 July 2026, a Russian Su-24 Fencer operated by Africa Corps, the Kremlin's paramilitary force in Mali, was lost after supporting Malian army units against Tuareg rebels in the Anefif area of the northeast. During bombing runs the aging strike aircraft was hit by ground fire — assault rifles and a Soviet-era M1939 anti-aircraft gun captured from Malian forces. Heavily damaged, the crew tried to reach Gao Korogoussou air base some 200 km south, but the aircraft crashed during the attempted recovery. Both pilots were killed. It was the second Africa Corps aircraft downed by Tuaregs in under three months.