French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived Thursday on a surprise visit to the mountains of northern Mali, where French troops have been tracking Islamist fighters who are thought to be holding foreign hostages.
Le Drian came to show support for the mission and pay homage to the two paratroopers recently killed in the Ifoghas mountain range. A total of four French soldiers have died since France launched its Mali operations on January 11.
"The mission is not over,” Le Drian told FRANCE 24’s Matthieu Mabin. “The combat has been carried out very well so far, but we still need to restore Mali's territorial integrity, until Mali is freed."
Read more: French minister of defence on surprise visit to Mali - FRANCE 24 EXCLUSIVE - FRANCE 24
Showing posts with label Islamist rebels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islamist rebels. Show all posts
2/9/13
Mali: French troops push Mali offensive to Algerian border
French combat troops, guided by Malian soldiers, arrived Friday to the town of Tessalit near the Malian border with Algeria as they continue to track retreating Islamist fighters hiding in the vast desert region.
French forces on Friday arrived in the town of Tessalit, a town deep in northern Mali near the border with Algeria, and one of the last strongholds of Islamist rebels who wielded unchecked power in the region less than a month ago.
Tessalit’s airport has now become the most distant combat outposts in the joint French-Malian effort to re-establish total control of northern Mali.
With a base of operation now established in Tessalit, French soldiers are now busy setting up a vast surveillance operation to track Islamist fighters who are still hiding in this expansive and harsh region.
Read more: French troops push Mali offensive to Algerian border - FRANCE 24 EXCLUSIVE - FRANCE 24
French forces on Friday arrived in the town of Tessalit, a town deep in northern Mali near the border with Algeria, and one of the last strongholds of Islamist rebels who wielded unchecked power in the region less than a month ago.
Tessalit’s airport has now become the most distant combat outposts in the joint French-Malian effort to re-establish total control of northern Mali.
With a base of operation now established in Tessalit, French soldiers are now busy setting up a vast surveillance operation to track Islamist fighters who are still hiding in this expansive and harsh region.
Read more: French troops push Mali offensive to Algerian border - FRANCE 24 EXCLUSIVE - FRANCE 24
1/15/13
Mali: France plans troop surge in Mali as offensive continues
France will progressively boost troop presence in Mali to 2,500 French soldiers, defence ministry sources said on Tuesday, as it rushes to push back Islamist rebels controlling the country’s desert north.
France’s military intervention in Mali will be increased to 2,500 French soldiers, defence ministry sources said Tuesday, as the offensive in the divided African country entered its fifth day.
French President François Hollande held a press conference during a state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday, during which he outlined France's three goals in Mali.
“Our objectives are as follows: one, stop terrorists seeking to control the country including the capital Bamako; two, we want to ensure that Bamako is secure – several thousand French nationals live there; three, enable Mali to retake its territory, a mission that has been entrusted to an African force that France will support,” he said.
Read more: France plans troop surge in Mali as offensive continues - MALI - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
France’s military intervention in Mali will be increased to 2,500 French soldiers, defence ministry sources said Tuesday, as the offensive in the divided African country entered its fifth day.
French President François Hollande held a press conference during a state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday, during which he outlined France's three goals in Mali.
“Our objectives are as follows: one, stop terrorists seeking to control the country including the capital Bamako; two, we want to ensure that Bamako is secure – several thousand French nationals live there; three, enable Mali to retake its territory, a mission that has been entrusted to an African force that France will support,” he said.
Read more: France plans troop surge in Mali as offensive continues - MALI - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
1/14/13
France: Mali- Islamist rebels pledge attacks on French soil, but local Mali population hails French intervention
Islamist rebel fighters in northern Mali have pledged to strike “at the heart” of France, after a joint Malian-French offensive -- which has entered its fourth day -- began pushing back al Qaeda linked rebels controlling the region.
Malian and French soldiers, backed by heavy French military air support, pushed back rebel fighters from the central town of Konna over the weekend.
A dozen French fighter planes, including four Rafale jets, hit rebel targets in the cities of Goa and Kidal, deeper in the country’s rebel-held north. Residents of Goa said French air raids had struck bases and destroyed weapons depots.
Nevertheless, Malian soldiers continued to struggle against well-equipped rebels, who on Monday wrestled away control of the central town of Diabaly, according to French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. “We knew that the key spots would be towards the west… where the most important fighting is going on today,” Le Drian told French BFM television.
Also on Monday, Islamists vowed to strike back at France.
"France has attacked Islam. We will strike at the heart of France," Abou Dardar, a leader of Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), one of the Mali-based groups with ties to al Qaeda, told the AFP news agency.
Asked where attacks would take place, Dardar said: "Everywhere. In Bamako, in Africa and in Europe."
Malian troops on the ground and around 550 French soldiers deployed so far are awaiting the arrival of a 3,300-stong multi-nation African force. French President François Hollande said French involvement would last “as long as is necessary.”
According to France 24’s Mathieu Mabin, who was in the city of Sevare, residents eagerly awaited the arrival of French troops and supported a ground offensive into rebel-controlled areas. “We have not come across a single Malian who is against France’s intervention,” Mabin said.
French flags could be seen flying from apartment windows and cars in Bamako, where Malians overwhelmingly praised France’s support and appeared to welcome the prospect of having French soldiers in their territory.
“We are proud of the French,” Moussa, a man who fled his native Timbuktu months ago, told France Inter radio. “We have been suffocating and [France] has given us a breath of oxygen. We are ready to fly Malian and French flags alongside each other.”
France's Le Drian told a press conference on Saturday that France had intervened not only because the security of Mali and West Africa were in peril, but because there was also a threat to France and Europe.
Read more: Mali-based Islamists pledge attacks on French soil - MALI - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
Malian and French soldiers, backed by heavy French military air support, pushed back rebel fighters from the central town of Konna over the weekend.
A dozen French fighter planes, including four Rafale jets, hit rebel targets in the cities of Goa and Kidal, deeper in the country’s rebel-held north. Residents of Goa said French air raids had struck bases and destroyed weapons depots.
Nevertheless, Malian soldiers continued to struggle against well-equipped rebels, who on Monday wrestled away control of the central town of Diabaly, according to French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. “We knew that the key spots would be towards the west… where the most important fighting is going on today,” Le Drian told French BFM television.
Also on Monday, Islamists vowed to strike back at France.
"France has attacked Islam. We will strike at the heart of France," Abou Dardar, a leader of Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), one of the Mali-based groups with ties to al Qaeda, told the AFP news agency.
Asked where attacks would take place, Dardar said: "Everywhere. In Bamako, in Africa and in Europe."
Malian troops on the ground and around 550 French soldiers deployed so far are awaiting the arrival of a 3,300-stong multi-nation African force. French President François Hollande said French involvement would last “as long as is necessary.”
According to France 24’s Mathieu Mabin, who was in the city of Sevare, residents eagerly awaited the arrival of French troops and supported a ground offensive into rebel-controlled areas. “We have not come across a single Malian who is against France’s intervention,” Mabin said.
French flags could be seen flying from apartment windows and cars in Bamako, where Malians overwhelmingly praised France’s support and appeared to welcome the prospect of having French soldiers in their territory.
“We are proud of the French,” Moussa, a man who fled his native Timbuktu months ago, told France Inter radio. “We have been suffocating and [France] has given us a breath of oxygen. We are ready to fly Malian and French flags alongside each other.”
France's Le Drian told a press conference on Saturday that France had intervened not only because the security of Mali and West Africa were in peril, but because there was also a threat to France and Europe.
Read more: Mali-based Islamists pledge attacks on French soil - MALI - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
1/13/13
France: French planes strike Mali rebel stronghold of Gao
French fighter jets and attack helicopters bombed rebel positions in the Malian town of Gao on Sunday, residents said, as France pushed its military campaign towards northern Islamist strongholds.
"Two helicopters are bombarding the positions of the Islamists, who are trying to fight back," said resident Soumaila Maiga. "The planes are so fast you only hear their sound in the sky."
A spokesman for Ansar Dine, one of the main Islamist factions, said French aircraft had also attacked its positions in the smaller towns of Lere and Douentza, further south. (Reporting by Adama Diarra and Tiemoko Diallo; writing by Daniel Flynn)
Read more: French planes strike Mali rebel stronghold of Gao | Reuters
"Two helicopters are bombarding the positions of the Islamists, who are trying to fight back," said resident Soumaila Maiga. "The planes are so fast you only hear their sound in the sky."
A spokesman for Ansar Dine, one of the main Islamist factions, said French aircraft had also attacked its positions in the smaller towns of Lere and Douentza, further south. (Reporting by Adama Diarra and Tiemoko Diallo; writing by Daniel Flynn)
Read more: French planes strike Mali rebel stronghold of Gao | Reuters
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