France continues air strikes and deployment of ground forces around Diabaly and Sévaré Mali 2501131

As the air strikes continue, a senior member of the Ansar Dine Islamist group, which helped seize Mali’s north last year, says his fighters are part of a faction that are ready for talks with the government.

Malian government forces advanced into northern Mali on Friday, January 25, 2013, and reached the town of Hombori, some 160 km (100 miles) south of the Islamist rebel stronghold of Gao, after French air strikes drove back the militants, military sources said.

The sources on the ground, who declined to be identified, said the Malian army had moved forward after taking the central town of Douentza on Monday, January 21, 2013. There was no immediate official confirmation from the Malian defense ministry.

French land forces continue to strengthen their deployment around Diabaly and Sévaré with the Joint Battle Group of the 21st RIMA (21e Marine Infantry Regiment). The airmobile group (GAM, commanded by Colonel Gout) and the staff of the brigade SERVAL, commanded by General Barrera, were also move towards the town of Segou.

A helicopter battalion equipped with SA 342 Gazelle and AS 332 Super Puma Gazelle arrived in Mopti, Wednesday, 23 January, 2013.

The warship Dixmude of the French Navy departed from France, January 21, 2013, is on the way for Mali with new troops and armoured vehicles.

The operation Serval mobilises now 2,400 French soldiers in Mali..

The numbers of African troops is now 1750 soldiers divided between Mali and Niger: 200 Togolese, 150 Nigerians, 150 Burkinabe, 85 Beninese, 50 Senegalese, 550 Nigerians and 550 Chadians.