SAN, Mali — A horrific drone strike conducted by the Malian military has left at least 10 civilians dead in the central region of San. The devastating incident occurred as a local community was gathering to celebrate a traditional mass wedding.

The strikes have sparked immense grief in the locality of Tene, turning what was anticipated to be a major cultural celebration into a period of profound mourning.

According to security and local sources, the tragedy unfolded as villagers prepared for the second edition of the collective wedding event. A local security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the military drones targeted a consecutive procession of moving motorcycles. Authorities believe the tight cluster of vehicles is likely what drew the attention of the drone operators.

"What was supposed to be a moment of joy in the village turned into immense sorrow," a local resident told AFP, confirming that 10 youth from the community were killed in the blast. An elected official from the area similarly confirmed the death toll, stating that the community has been plunged into deep mourning by the sudden loss.

The fatal drone strike comes at a time of extreme volatility for Mali's ruling junta. The nation's security environment has rapidly deteriorated following large-scale, coordinated offensives launched by an alliance of Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists and Tuareg separatists.

The security crisis reached a boiling point following a major offensive where rebel forces successfully targeted strategic towns, killed the country's influential defense minister, and established a restrictive blockade around the capital city of Bamako.

The Malian military has increasingly relied on aerial drone operations to combat the escalating insurgency. However, international rights groups have frequently raised alarms over the rising toll of civilian casualties resulting from these strikes, urging the junta to establish stricter rules of engagement.

Local leaders and human rights advocates are calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into the San region strike to determine why a civilian cultural procession was misidentified as a hostile target.

Since the outbreak of conflict in 2012, thousands of civilians have been caught in the crossfire of violence involving state forces, separatists, and jihadist networks. For the families in Tene, the tragic loss highlights the ongoing, perilous reality faced by ordinary citizens navigating Mali's widening war.