Thread by @WillJMeddings

An update from UK ops in #Mali: Two weeks ago an armed group committed an atrocious killing of over 50 civilians in the villages around Outagouna. The #Malian Army and Nigerien troops from @UN_MINUSMA were first on the scene. We were not far behind.

A 🧵

theguardian.com/world/2021/aug…

The 🇬🇧LRRG is 250-strong, but it isn’t designated as a QRF.

Yet we can move fast and stay deployed on the ground for a month at a time, providing security for longer than most.

Outtagouna is around 150km from Gao. So the first phase was getting south. We received the news in the middle of the night and were moving 250 soldiers South first thing the next morning.

It wasn’t long before we were outside the town.

Getting down there allowed us to report the facts to the @UN, help those recently bereaved, reassure the inhabitants and deter another attack.

To protect people over a wide area, we’ve been getting UAVs up in the air repeatedly.

The taskgroup has one in its infantry company and another in it recce squadron.

Importantly, like the rest of the @BritishArmy, we are more than comfortable owning the night – patrolling in the dark when ISGS try to come back to intimidate and kill.

If something is spotted, @TheWelshCavalry can cover large distances over the desert to react quickly.

Their Jackals and Coyotes are superb in this terrain.

We’ve already reacted to information coming from the Malian Army about future attacks – getting to villages quickly after the news.

So far, so good.

We’ve also been leaving eyes and ears hidden around the area.

Overt deters; covert finds and calls in support.

I won’t lie – it’s frustrating to arrive after the event. But we can’t be there for long periods.

Next we’ll be bringing in the @UN Human Rights investigation team. This is ‘one-team’ @UN_MINUSMA business.

Right now, as you read this, we are still out there. And we will be for a while longer, providing security to the people of #Mali and their way of life.

On behalf of the UK and the UN. 🇺🇳🇬🇧