France still bombing the hell out of Mali militants

Locutus

Locutus

Adorable Deplorable
Jun 18, 2007
32,230
45
48
65
French warplanes have bombed the town of Gao in eastern Mali, extending their attacks deep into rebel-held territory.

France's military has been in action against Islamist militants in Mali since Friday, helping government forces recapture the central town of Konna.

A resident in Gao told AFP news agency all Islamist bases in the town had been destroyed and the militants had fled.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the Islamist advance in Mali had been brought to a halt.

"Stopping the terrorists, that's done," he told RTL radio. Had France not intervened, there was a risk that the Islamists could have advanced as far as the capital, Bamako, he said.

Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels seized northern Mali in April 2012.


more


BBC News - France Rafale jets target Gao in eastern Mali
 
Goober

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
24,691
116
63
Moving
0 months to take action. And they planned to have a military intervention somewhat together by the fall. Until the rebels started advancing.
One report stated the French were surprised at the training and the weapons the rebels had. Guess their Military Intelligence missed the fall of Gaddafi. And all those weapons many of which the Rebels acquired.
Fuk me.
 
earth_as_one

earth_as_one

Time Out
Jan 5, 2006
7,933
53
48
France Bombs Mali rebels

It sure sounds like France is kicking some al Qaeda butt:

France Bombs Mali Rebels, African States Ready Troops

The battle to retake Mali's north from the al-Qaida-linked groups controlling it began in earnest Saturday, after hundreds of French forces deployed to the country and began aerial bombardments to drive back the Islamic extremists.

At the same time, nations in West Africa authorized the immediate deployment of troops to Mali, fast-forwarding a military intervention that was not due to start until September.

Meanwhile, Fox News reported on Saturday that France has appealed to the U.S. for drone support and the request is being reviewed by the Pentagon.

The decision to begin the military operation was taken after the fighters, who seized the northern half of Mali nine months ago, decided earlier this week to push even further south to the town of Konna, coming within 50 kilometers (30 miles) of Mopti, the first town held by the government and a major base for the Malian military.

Many believe that if Mopti were to fall, the Islamists could potentially seize the rest of the country, dramatically raising the stakes. The potential outcome was "a terrorist state at the doorstep of France and Europe," French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Saturday.

France scrambled Mirage fighter jets from a base in neighboring Chad, as well as combat helicopters beginning the aerial assault on Friday. They have also sent in hundreds of troops to the front line, as well as to secure the capital. In just 24 hours, French forces succeeded in dispersing the Islamists from Konna, the town the fighters had seized in a bold advance earlier in the week, Le Drian said.

Malian military officials said they were now conducting sweeps, looking for snipers.

"A halting blow has been delivered, and heavy losses have been inflicted on our adversaries, but our mission is not complete," French President Francois Hollande said after a three-hour meeting with his defense chiefs in Paris....

the Same story from Al Jazeera:

Mali rebels advance despite French airstrikes

Al-Qaeda-linked rebels overrun garrison of Diabaly in central Mali after fierce fighting with French and Malian troops.

Rebels have grabbed more territory in Mali, inching closer to the capital despite intensive aerial bombardments by French warplanes, French and Malian authorities have said.

The al-Qaeda-linked rebels overran the garrison village of Diabaly in central Mali, France's defence minister said in Paris on Monday.

Jean-Yves Le Drian said the rebels "took Diabaly after fierce fighting and resistance from the Malian army that couldn't hold them back"'.

The Malian military is in disarray and has let many towns fall with barely a shot fired since the insurgency began almost a year ago in the northwest African nation.

French military forces, who began battling in Mali on Friday, widened their aerial bombing campaign against the rebels occupying northern Mali, launching airstrikes for the first time in central Mali to combat the new threat.

Al Jazeera's correspondent Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from the capital Bamako, said: "There are reports of about 60 fighters being killed thus far while Doctors without Borders say they are very concerned about the lives of civilians in the region."....
Mali rebels advance despite French airstrikes - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Also from Al Jazeera:
... (French president) Hollande says the rebel presence is a major security threat: "France, at the request of the president of Mali, and respecting the United Nations' charter, committed itself yesterday to support the Malian army against terrorist aggression that threatens all of West Africa .... Thanks to the courage of our soldiers, a halting blow was brought to bear and heavy losses were inflicted on our adversaries, but our mission is not accomplished."

The fighters however, warn that the offensive will be France's Afghanistan - and its downfall.

Sanda Ould Bouamama, a spokesperson for Ansar Dine, one of the groups the French are fighting, warned: "We have tanks, armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft guns, grad rocket launchers and other weapons. We've already managed to down a French aircraft, which everyone has now heard about. But know this, we fight the French with the same weapons as our brothers fought their invaders in Afghanistan and Iraq, our faith in God, by His will Azawad will be the Afghanistan of the region and France's downfall."

The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and Ansar Dine were the two major Tuareg groups involved in the takeover of the north of Mali....

What is France risking in Mali? - Inside Story - Al Jazeera English

Holy smokes, did Al Jazeera take statements from both sides of the conflict? What kind of high journalistic standards is Al Jazeera setting? If the CBC national News did that, they'd have to cut out the fluff.
 
earth_as_one

earth_as_one

Time Out
Jan 5, 2006
7,933
53
48
Re: France Bombs Mali rebels

I missed that. Let this thread die. I'll post on the other thread.
 
earth_as_one

earth_as_one

Time Out
Jan 5, 2006
7,933
53
48
I doubt 500 French boots on the ground can stop the rebels regardless of the amount of ordinance dropped from the sky.
 
Goober

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
24,691
116
63
Moving
Last edited:
darkbeaver

darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
41,035
201
63
RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia
I hope none of the gold was hurt in the bombing and that it is safely rescued from the evil Islamist rebels. What African gold needs is freedom and democracy and the right to sit in any vault it chooses..
 
damngrumpy

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
21
38
kelowna bc
It is time to say no more not because we should be involved everywhere for every thing.
No because the militants are attempting to set up a new Afghanistan and we would have
bigger problems down the road. Maybe its time to just do what needs to be done to send
these groups back to hell where they belong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom