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French Armed Forces Operation Serval in Mali
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| Monday, March
4, 2013, 04:55 PM |
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| Heavy
fighting for the French Army in rocky mountains of North Mali against Islamist
rebels. |
The combat of the French Army in rugged Sahara Desert mountains is growing
harder, and there's a rising threat that the militants will turn to suicide
bombings, hostage-taking and other guerrilla tactics. The French military
struck at Islamist militants dug in along the remote, rocky mountain ranges
of northern Mali over the last week, killing scores, a French military
spokesman said Friday, March 1, 2013. |
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French soldiers stand guard outside the destroyed main market in Gao,
March 2, 2013. French soldiers visited the market on Saturday, nine days
after it was destroyed during fighting between radical Islamists and Malian
and French soldiers.
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.The
week’s operations, conducted with Chadian troops, were a further
sign that the French military intervention against the jihadists in Mali,
initially viewed as a quick strike, was not winding down soon.
French troops will stay in the West African country of Mali at least until
July, amid tougher-than-expected resistance from Islamic fighters, officials
have told The Associated Press, despite earlier government promises to
begin a quick pullout within weeks.
France's leadership has painted the intervention against al-Qaeda-backed
radicals in Mali, which began in January, as a swift and limited one,
and said that France could start withdrawing its 4,000 troops in Mali
in March and hand over security duties to an African force.
One French diplomat acknowledged this week that a French military presence
is expected to remain for at least six months. Two other French officials
told The Associated Press that the French will remain at least until July,
when France is hoping that Mali can hold elections.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized
to speak publicly on the military campaign.
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