Armed groups launched coordinated attacks across Mali on Tuesday morning, with gunmen staging simultaneous assaults in and around the capital Bamako, according to the country's military.

Witnesses reported two loud explosions and sustained gunfire shortly before 6 a.m. near Mali's main military base at Kati, located outside Bamako. The sounds of combat continued for an extended period as the situation unfolded.

Soldiers were quickly deployed to block off roads in the area around the military installation, according to witnesses on the scene. The army characterized the incidents as coordinated attacks by armed groups operating across multiple locations in the country.

The attacks appear to represent a significant escalation in violence targeting Mali's military infrastructure. The Kati base, being the country's primary military facility, represents a strategic target for opposition forces.

Mali has faced ongoing security challenges in recent years, with various armed groups operating throughout the country. The simultaneous nature of Tuesday's attacks suggests a level of coordination and planning by the perpetrators.