French and Malian forces in control of Gao airport
In a statement, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: "French forces have gained control of the airport and bridge in Gao, in the north-east of Mali."In addition, the Islamists want to negotiate announce the release of a French hostage, Le Figaro reports.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/French-and-Mali...
He added that 3,700 French troops were engaged in Operation Serval, 2,500 of them on Malian soil.The airport is reportedly situated some 6km (3.7 miles) to the east of the town and the Wabary bridge is to the south of the Gao, which is some 1,200km (745 miles) north-east of the capital, Bamako.
"The jihadi terrorists who clashed with Malian and French armies saw many of their mobile resources and logistical destroyed at their sites," said Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defence, in a brief statement, addressing his " strong congratulations "to the 3700 French soldiers involved.
Gao is a stronghold of the Islamist Movement for the uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao). It is this group which said on Saturday to AFP that they want to negotiate the release of the French hostage Gilberto Rodriguez Leal held for two months.
Ten combat aircraft, Rafales and Mirage 2000's stationed in Bamako and N'Djamena continued their air strikes against Islamist rear bases, command posts, ammunition and fuel depots and Timbuktu, Le Figaro reported.
"The jihadi terrorists who clashed with Malian and French armies saw many of their mobile resources and logistical destroyed at their sites," said Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defence, in a brief statement, addressing his " strong congratulations "to the 3700 French soldiers involved.
Gao is a stronghold of the Islamist Movement for the uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao). It is this group which said on Saturday to AFP that they want to negotiate the release of the French hostage Gilberto Rodriguez Leal held for two months.
Ten combat aircraft, Rafales and Mirage 2000's stationed in Bamako and N'Djamena continued their air strikes against Islamist rear bases, command posts, ammunition and fuel depots and Timbuktu, Le Figaro reported.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/French-and-Mali...