The United States is assessing possible military measures in Mali targeting terrorists tied to Al-Qaeda, according to a report from The Washington Post issued on Wednesday.

This would mark the eighth country where the US military has taken action since President Donald Trump started his second term in January 2025, joining prior operations in Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, and Venezuela.

Unnamed officials and ex-officials indicated that National Security Council Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka backs the idea of carrying out such strikes.

The organization under scrutiny, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, received terrorist designation from the US in 2018 per the Director of National Intelligence site.

Though centered in Mali, the outfit with over 6,000 fighters also operates across neighboring West African countries including Niger and Nigeria.

Gorka is portrayed as favoring firm counterterrorism approaches and has participated in prior efforts against an Al-Qaeda associate in Algeria.

The Washington Post sought input from Gorka and a Mali government spokesperson without success.

White House labels JNIM a multinational challenge

The Pentagon offered no comment, yet a White House official stated that the Trump team has pressed impacted African countries to acquire American gear and support for their campaigns against militants, framing the matter as a shared regional issue.

The official urged partners and NATO allies to back the Alliance of Sahel States against JNIM and ISIS.

Additional remarks highlighted Russia's failure to aid the area despite its role as Mali's security partner.

The official expressed hope that other African states observe Russia's poor record in fighting terrorism.

The Russian Embassy in Washington gave no reply to requests for comment.

The State Department condemned terrorist acts in Mali without equivocation when asked about possible operations.

Independent analyst Corinne Dufka cautioned The Washington Post that US involvement in Mali might trigger backlash and draw JNIM focus toward American citizens.

She added that such steps could waste chances to reduce radicalization and disarm one of the globe's most advanced jihadist networks.