A passenger boat traveling along the Niger River in northern Mali was attacked on Thursday by suspected jihadists, according to the Malian army.

The attack targeted a Comanav boat, an operator running ferry services between cities along the river. At least three rockets were fired at the boat’s engines, leaving the vessel immobilized on the river.

As of now, there are no reported casualties, and authorities have not provided further updates on the incident.

The army is currently evacuating passengers from the stranded boat.

The Niger River serves as a vital transport route in a region where road infrastructure is limited and railways are nonexistent.

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This attack highlights the ongoing security challenges facing northern Mali, where insurgent groups, including jihadists, have been active since 2012.

The situation has been further complicated by political instability in Mali, including a coup in 2020 that ousted the civilian government.

Tensions in the region escalated recently after the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali handed over two bases near Timbuktu to the armed forces, leading to clashes between the army, jihadists, and former rebels.