A Malian army base came under attack on Monday, and shells were fired at the airport in the northern city of Timbuktu, where heavy gunfire was heard, the army, local officials and residents said.

Junta-ruled Mali has since 2012 faced attacks from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as separatist movements and criminal gangs.

For several months in 2012, jihadists took control of the fabled desert city of Timbuktu.

The army’s general staff said in a statement that it had “thwarted an attempt by terrorist fighters to infiltrate the Timbuktu camp” at around 10:00am (local and GMT).

It added that 13 attackers were “neutralised”, without saying if there had been other victims.

“The search is underway throughout the city of Timbuktu,” it added.

The attackers tried to force their way into the military camp, and shells were launched at the airport, which is two kilometres (just over a mile) from the city, the city governor’s office said.

The situation is “under control”, it added on social media.

No information on possible military or civilian victims was immediately available.

Later in the day, a security source said that operations in the camp were “already over” and that the attackers were “everywhere in the city”.

“They did not raid the airport because the Russians are there. But they launched shells. It’s hot everywhere,” the source added.

A local official said the “terrorists” arrived in Timbuktu “with a vehicle packed with explosives”.

“The vehicle exploded near the (military) camp,” the official said.

UN staff were instructed in a message “to take shelter” and “stay away from windows” due to “shooting in the city of Timbuktu”. (Daily Trust)