On June 24, 2011, Malian and Mauritanian forces launched an offensive into the Wagadou Forest, an area on the Malian-Mauritanian border known as a hideout for Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

[3][4] AQIM jihadists were protected by deep trench networks and antipersonnel mines surrounding their base in the forest.

[5][6] Mauritanian special intervention groups, created to fight jihadist incursions, were powered by ultralight aviation.

"[4] While Malian and Mauritanian forces were able to destroy the AQIM base, combing operations continued in the days following the battle for jihadists that had fled.

[8] The Mauritanian Army released a statement announcing the deaths of two soldiers and seven injured, and that fifteen jihadists had been killed.