Trump administration weighs Mali strike on al-Qaeda group

The Trump administration is actively considering military action against an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group in Mali, according to internal deliberations reported on July 22. If approved, it would mark the eighth country where President Donald Trump has authorized military operations since the start of his second term.

The potential target is Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a group that has expanded across the Sahel region of West Africa, launching deadly attacks in Mali and neighboring countries. The administration is reportedly divided on the issue. Sebastian Gorka, the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, is a vocal advocate for military force. Other officials have urged caution, pointing to the failures of past French and Russian interventions to contain the insurgency.

A White House official, when asked about potential action, described terrorist activity in the Sahel as a multinational problem and urged regional partners and NATO allies to support the Alliance of Sahel States-a confederation of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger-in their war against JNIM and ISIS. The official also criticized Russia's role, stating Moscow has...