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Eric Feferberg / AFP - Getty Images
Malian people watch as a French armored vehicle leaves Bamako to begin deploying to the north of Mali as part of the "Serval" operations on Wednesday.In a joint offensive launched with Malian soldiers on Jan. 11, France is using air and ground power to defeat a militant Islamist group controlling the north of the country.
BAMAKO, Mali — French troops launched their first ground operation against Islamist rebels in Mali on Wednesday in a crucial action to dislodge al-Qaida-linked fighters who have resisted six days of airstrikes.
France called for international support against Islamist insurgents it says are a threat to Africa and the West and acknowledged it faced a long fight against well-equipped and determined militant fighters who seized Mali's vast desert north last year.
After Islamist threats to exact revenge for France's dramatic intervention, an al-Qaida-linked group claimed responsibility for a raid on a gas field in Algeria in a number of foreign workers were believed to have been kidnapped.
A column of French armored vehicles moved into position on Tuesday at the town of Niono, 190 miles from the capital Bamako. With the Malian army securing the northern region near the Mauritanian border, Islamist fighters were encircled in the nearby town of Diabaly.
French army chief Edouard Guillaud said his ground forces were starting their campaign against the alliance of Islamist fighters, grouping al-Qaida's North African wing AQIM with Mali's home grown Ansar Dine and MUJWA militant movements.
After tripling its number of troops to help stop Islamist fighters advancing on Mali's capital, the French president has pledged to stay in Mali until stability has returned. Meanwhile, A UK transport has arrived and thousands of African troops are on the way. ITV's Rohit Kachroo reports from Mali's capital
"In the coming hours — but I cannot tell you if it's in one hour or 72 hours — yes, of course we will be fighting them directly," he told Europe 1 radio.
In Niono, a resident reported seeing French and Malian troops in armored vehicles heading toward Islamist rebel lines. Fighting was reported in Diabaly but it was not immediately clear if French ground forces were involved.
Human shields
Guillaud said French military strikes were being hampered because militants were using the civilian population as a shield.
"We categorically refuse to make the civilian population take a risk. If in doubt, we will not shoot," he said. Residents who fled Diabaly confirmed the Islamists had used the towns inhabitants to protect themselves in recent days.
French fighter jets, meanwhile, struck the headquarters of the Islamic police in Niafunke, a small town on the Niger river near the ancient caravan route of Timbuktu, residents said.
Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian acknowledged that France faced a difficult operation, particularly in Western Mali where AQIM's mostly foreign fighters have camps.
"It's tough. We were aware from the beginning it would be a very difficult operation," Le Drian said.
French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday French forces would remain in Mali until stability returned to the West African nation. Hollande said France hoped, however, to hand over to African forces in its former colony, "in the coming days or weeks."
The conflict in Mali raised concerns across mostly Muslim West Africa of a radicalization of Islam in the region. In Senegal, a traditionally moderate Islamic country, President Macky Sall warned citizens to be vigilant for attacks.
Al-Qaida-linked Islamist rebels in Mali have promised to drag France into an Afghanistan-style war. They've launched a counteroffensive after four days of French airstrikes on their northern strongholds. There are reports the Islamists have seized control of Diabaly a town 250 miles north of the capital Bamako. Jonathan Miller Channel Four Europe reports.
"We must be on the watch in our towns and villages because infiltrations are taking place," he said in a speech on Tuesday. "You will hear foreign preachers talking in the name of Islam. You must denounce them to authorities."
The fighting in Mali, a landlocked state at the heart of West Africa, has displaced an estimated 30,000 people. Hundreds have fled across the border into neighboring Mauritania and Niger in recent days.
"We were all afraid. Many young fighters have enrolled with them recently," said Mahamadou Abdoulaye, 35, a truck driver who fled from the northern Gao region of Mali into Niger. "They are newly arrived, they cannot manage their weapons properly. There's fear on everybody's face."
Additional reporting by Tiemoko Diallo and Adama Diarra in Bamako, Lamine Chikhi in Algiers, Alexandra Hudson in Berlin; Writing by Daniel Flynn; Editing by David Lewis and Giles Elgood
Related stories:
French to send 1,000 more troops to Mali; US playing supporting role
ANALYSIS: Why France is taking on Mali extremists
Al-Qaida-linked fighters destroy 'end of the world' gate in Timbuktu
Leave a Comment:
It will be most foolish to put soldiers on the ground in the battle against Islamic extremists.
Instead, carpet bombings as during Iraqi war 1991 is the best way to go.
In guerilla warfare, when attacked, withdrawing Is a common tactics. Islamic extremists have been using them well for a longtime.
Recently in Iraqi war of 2003 and Afghan war, Islamic extremists used this tactics.
Hope French don’t get too much stuck up in Mali.
I still eat Freedom Fries, Freedom Toast and drink California wine.
Heavy bombing makes complete sense purely militarily speaking, and should be the first choice in case of total war.
However, in the case of local conflicts in a broadly peaceful world, such action would hurt badly the image of France (or anyone who would do this) in the eye of many populations, ultimately fuelling hatred and increasing the amount of extremists sympathizers.
Yeah, Creek Dog, those "freedom fries" served at the U.S. Congress Restaurant.
Grown men and women in the United States government revealed themselves as idiots.
drones can be better options, they are silent, like phantoms and eyes far away, also can strike deadly, they made good points in Pakistan
Arm-chair soldiers advocate 'carpet bombing' as if ordering a side of pizza for dinner in the comfort of their home. They can't connect the mass aerial bombardment with the indiscriminate killing of innocent men, women, and children because they have never been in a killing zone. They have never seen human flesh, bone, guts, blood and brain matter splattered everywhere or limbs of children and babies cut off by shrapnel, or burnt by napalm. And how they die in pain while looking at you straight into your eyes as you cradle them in your arms.
Instead, the arm-chair warriors deploy the military euphemism that hides the brutality and horror of war or succumb to the romantic seduction of military technology.
Whatever their initial benevolent perception of war, those who actually had to kill another human being and witnessed the death and destruction unleashed by his fellow man are sadden and changed by the war experience. When the veterans of war hear the gung-ho individuals who call for 'carpet bombing' or 'nuke them,' they just shake their head and wonder why the human race have progressed so little.
WallStFatCat, what Americans do not understand in a terrorist war no one is INNOCENT, we are all targets. One of us die you kill hundreds of theirs. Learn from history, in Roman time you killed a Roman citizen, they sacked a town. Yes it worked for several thousands of years. You don't pick and choose, it is a willingness to pay the cost of the ORDER. Give me the machine I'll give the order, I'll pay the cost, it just depends how long you want peace! I can give you peace by death, that is what the terrorist are offering. I promiss not the put ant troops in any harm if I don't have to put any troops on land, I'll only use quick stricks, get in get out, no sticking around to clean up the mess.
The french fries are attacking us...that's not french fries you dumb azz they only have rifles we have missles..then they are french toast..they aren't french toast you dumb azz..they be french dressings!
Hello folks, listen to the warmongers, we just lost two protracted wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) a half a world away and now their giving advice on fighting and starting another war that would last a lot longer then Afghanistan. The French went into Vietnam and lost and we took over and lost, as they say those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Here we go again!
The War On Terror Spreads to Africa: U.S. Sending Troops to 35 African Nations
Submitted by George Washington on 01/12/2013 16:40 -0500
The U.S. is sending troops to 35 African nations under the guise of fighting Al Qaeda and related terrorists.
Democracy Now notes:
U.S. Army teams will be deploying to as many as 35 African countries early next year for training programs and other operations as part of an increased Pentagon role in Africa. The move would see small teams of U.S. troops dispatched to countries with groups allegedly linked to al-Qaeda, such as Libya, Sudan, Algeria and Niger. The teams are from a U.S. brigade that has the capability to use drones for military operations in Africa if granted permission. The deployment could also potentially lay the groundwork for future U.S. military intervention in Africa.
Islamists hiding behind innocent civilians does that surprise anyone? Islamists seeking to force Sharia law on non-Muslims does that surprise anyone?
Does it make you suspicious when you hear Alqaida being everywhere? Who is alqaida anyway? Or are they naming them as alqaida to gain your symphathy for war against them? Literally the marketing engine created a brand "al-qaida" and bad guys pick the name to be cool and the good guys use it to attack them with popular support.
Hello jerryjac,
Al Qaeda was created and funded by the CIA during the Soviet-Afghan war in the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s. The funding of these militants did not begin after the Soviet invasion, but actually several years before the invasion and US intervention in Afghanistan by training and arming Afghanistan’s Mujahidin, along with Osama Bin Laden’s Arab fighters.
US National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski met with Osama Bin Laden on many occasions then leading the CIA’s Arab legionaries in Afghanistan. Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda would later spin off into regional terrorist organizations, covertly armed, trained, and protected by the CIA to this day, including LIFG in Libya, MEK in Iraq and Iran, and Baluchi terrorists in Pakistan.
We keep arming militant groups who eventually use their weapons against our soldiers.
So bomb the camps! No civilians to worry about.
WallStFatCat: The best option is not to go to wars.
Iraqi wars and the resulting oil prices manipulations only helped Wall Street manipulators, oil companies and the Sunni oil rich rulers.
Why did the US and NATO forces go to Iraqi wars.
Did they forget about innocents and all the big words you are using?
Some can invent wars and then can give big coloring around them too!
If US or anyone go to wars, fight wars and not with human rights manuals.
Who asked French to intervene in Mali?
Great post WallStFatCat! When will we ever learn?
WallStFatCat.. very well said .. kudos..
This is not about securing Europe or the US against the grave threat of terror from Timbuktu. (Yes, we're now expected to believe that Timbuktu is the latest threat to our "freedom".)
It's about propping up the right puppet regimes to ensure that valuable mineral resources---such as the columbite-tantalite necessary for electronic products---goes to the West instead of to China.
In short, it's more economically-motivated imperialism that's being billed, once again, as a "war on terror" and unquestioningly sold as such by obsequious mainstream "news" media.
What's really sad is to see how many people are willing to believe the latest pack of lies from Western leaders, even after the revelation of all the ones we've already been told.
The French had to step up to the plate eventually. It seems that in the past, when we bailed them out, they really did appreciate it however, when we so badly needed them, they didn't step up to the plate.
Not good on their behalf.
Now, get out there and kick some ass. Give US a reason to bail you guys out in the future if necessary!
1/ France was in Afghanistan from the begining.
2/ USSR bailed us out during WW2, but we didn't help them to invade Afghanistan.
3/ About Iraq, we warned you a country 60% shiite and 35% sunni (5% ...) would not make a democraty, and that Iran would come out triunphantly off this war. That's what happened. We surely acted as your best friends.
4/Carry on with eating freedom fries or whatever toast and drink cocacola, but PLEASE drink French wine (nevertheless I must admit there are some very good wines in California)
I can only think about two cases where France didnt back USA :
- Vietnam, where France, after the Indochina war, thought it would be a terrible idea
- Irak, where the french representatives at the united nations said they were not convinced at all by the "proofs" of WMD presence, and even less by the link between Saddam Hussein and Al Quaeda, while any intervention would fuel extremist presence in the area....
Appart from that, France has been helping in most conflicts which come to my mind, including Afghanistan and the first Iraki war....
As for USA bailing out France, I rather disagree. USA was forced into WW2, and certainly did not enter WW2 because they love the french... Secondly, there were many allied countries in WW2, why would all the credit go to USA, and why would France follow USA will instead of let's say canadians? Without even speaking about the fact that many many things have happened since then showing that countries are only driven by their own interrest... why did france leave NATO for example? take a look at the Suez Crisis, a defining event which has trigerred the French-US-UK relationship for 50 years...
France was heavily invested in Iraq and was making a killing there.
Guest... The Canadians lost a huge number of soldiers in the trench warfare in France, so much so that Newfoundland suffered a lack of men for decades. Max... The United States provided the Russians war materials during WWII, not the other way around. Planes were manufactured in the US, flown to Siberia, and then from Siberia they went to the war front with the Germans. Other assistance was provided to the Russian/German conflict via convoys, however Russia had then as now, a shortage of ice free ports, so convoys to Russia can't be compared to the convoys to sent Britain. During both wars, the First and the Second the fight against the Germans by the allies was through France, with the Russians coming through Eastern European countries. During WWI, the Russians were considered such poor soldiers, the Germans captured them in mass, told them they were poor soldiers and sent them back to Russia with their arms. It was these arms the Communists used in the Russian Revolution to overthrow the White Russians and the Czar.
guest124216:
France had no interest in backing a U.S. effort in Viet Nam not because they thought it was a bad idea, but because they had just had their asses handed to them by the Viet Minh in the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954....militarily, this was a decisive defeat for the French.
France had no interest in supporting an overthrow of Saddam because Francois Mitterrand, and others, was knee deep in the UN food-for-oil kickback scam.
Also, back in 1986 when Reagan bombed Gaddafi for his role in the W. German disco tech bombings, France denied fly over rights for bombers departing from England
So let me get this straight, the Normandy invasion, which liberated occupied France from Nazi domination and would never have taken place without the U.S......it's your opinion that the U.S. did not bailout France? Yikes....what history book did you study in school?
How is the Suez crisis of 1956 a defining moment in Anglo/Franco/American relationships?
France bailed our ass out during the American Revolution. Without France this country would not have won independence.
looks like France is taking the lead and the moral high road in the fight against al-Qaida terrorists, will the U.S. again sit on the sidelines as it did in the genocide efforts of Assad the Butcher who even tortured children in many torture chambers across the country. This terrorist outfit is evil and dangerous to the rights and freedom of the people, and again France is coming to the rescue as it did during the maddog Gadhafi conflict. Five star to France to save thousands of people from this mass murdering terrorist group while the U.S. sit on the sideline and watch.
Conventional military procedures are not very effective against terrorists. Too costly and inefficient! Death squads and bounty hunters are more effective against that type of aggressor.
Although there has been no direct military intervention by the U.S. in Syria, if you think we sitting on the sidelines and watching you are either very naive or just plain dumb.
Hey John....just grab your combat boots, your M-16.... head on over and show us how it's done. O.K....?
Honestly they should of known this was coming not really where but when, and now we wait and see what happens but more then likely a lot of people will die before any of this part of the conflict is over. it's a shame that they do this in the first place the rebels but why should anyone intervene if it is their problem let them solve it.
FRANCE...listen to me...no holes barred...no boots on the ground for one month while carpet bombing...the innocents may want to die if their opressers also die...you cannot allow them to take advantage of your good will by hiding behind their captives...you do that you will lose... SINCERELY...
Judging by all events that have happened over the last fifteen years it is apparent that Islam is incompatible with not only western but non middle-east societies. Always strife, hate and death in its wake.
Freedom1st most religion is hypocritical when it comes to other religions and usually creates confrontation. In truth we can judge that if the dark age's didn't occur we would probably be one thousand more years advanced then we are now, and several wars could of also been avoided but that doesnt make it all bad.
I'm glad somebody is getting a jump on this before the next upcoming arab/islamist spring.
the europeans countries clap happys when the "Arab Spring atack Libia, Egipt, now Syria but this moment they atack their "interest" in Africa, still clapping and jumping ?
Egipt
Hurry up Republicans in Congress, You cant stand to see another country at war without the United States sticking our nose into it. Hurry, Hurry, the French are making all of the money from this little war, we cant have that. Haliburton and the weapons Manufacturers are going to be lobbying you heavy if you dont Hurry and get the U.S. involved.
they take notes now ! americans "sacred cows" have been kidnaped in Argelia and are related to this incident
Hey idiot. Obama started training and arming soldiers there 4 years ago.
Those soldiers switched sides as soon as the fighting started.
Money not well spent on arms by B A R A C K.
I always love reading the comments and seeing the people who think say a country's top officials are reading and will listen to the advice of the people foolish enough to post comments thinking that they are being heard at that level.
Slang. We do know that our Reps are not reading our comments. They are to busy screwing someone out of some money for themselves, or are on the Golf Course. Some of the Reps do have Minions reading thousands of comments in the event one of us actually has an idea that these crooks have not thought of.
Sad thing is that people think they know exactly whats going on.
Is the US not involved in this one? Honestly, it'd be a pleasant surprise..
US is sending drones.....the last time I read on this subject.
Shoot anyone in a man dress wearing a mask. That's all they seem to wear in the pictures. Pay the locals to turn them in, too.
The Legion will be very happy to engage,no Mr. nice guy...
French tough ground offensive is about as frightening as a liberal's poodle barking at you from behind a locked door...the "real" question "is the US gullible or corrupt enough to allow the US military to be used as chattel by the Obama administration in Mali?"
I'd like to see you tell a French Legionnaire that. Did you know the islamists have already destroyed numerous UNESCO world heritage sites that are centuries old? Nah, you just care about blowing your horn, and pretending that the US military is somehow an extension of your obtuse DNA.
France isn't afraid to lose a few troops in a non-televised war. They don't need bogus intelligence to act. At least they have the sack to get in there, without a year of pre-production to fire up a "Shock and Awe" TV show for your entertainment. In a cage match, I don't mind saying, my money is on the Legion. Release the dogs!
+1 for the foreign legion. Dee ten you have no idea what you are talking about. the Fench military is definetly not a joke, ask anybody that have been in combat with them.
omegaman22
I'd like to see you tell a French Legionnaire that.
Lol so would I. Ive trained with them in the 90's and they are tough as nails They are much like our Ranger's 1+ to ya
Only the FINEST outta' africa: AIDS, EBOLA, THUGS, PIRATES & 100's of other HOT pestilance, ect. that the CDC is tooooo scared to talk about with the public! The 'missing-links' in evolution are STILL THERE!!
Don't blame islam on blacks or Africa you racist retard.
Gettup onda' recent NEWS you mental-midgit!
Mali is not Iraq. While there are some divisions between the Mali people, as far as I hear from news reports there is no support for the foreign fighters what so.
I don't think the divisions are so large as for a full scale civil war to erupt either.
The French are a cautious bunch, I'm sure they know what they are getting into.
The French are a cautious bunch...what a joke...how cautious is it to send 2500 French ground troops into a religious war that cannot be won...cautious...cautious you say...
There are really only divisions between the Tuaregs and everyone else (not between the Mali people). The Tuaregs tend to live in the northern region of Mali, and are quite xenophobic against the Mande' who make up the vast majority of the country's population, and live in all regions of the country. What most people don't know is, the Tuareg tend to attempt a take-over of Mali like this, every seven hundred years or so, like clockwork. After every attempt, they hold some regions for around five to ten years, and then lose control for another seven hundred, to the Mande' people. This has been happening in Manden (the land of the Mande' people) since at least 1000 B.C., or earlier, that I know of. The only difference is, that this time, the Tuareg enlisted the help of Al Qaeda, and lost control of their regions. Big mistake on their part.
Wonder why all the US Africans are marching to get on transportation to go help their bros in Mali taking whichever side they favor???
There's more $$$$ to get here in the US with home invasions! The 2-legged 'missing-links' are STILL evolving over here!!
Dee Ten. slightly racist
Less,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, you an Idiot. Hopefully you don't mate.
Mc-Phuquesto: Your needing the 'meds now: With an additive of COMMON SENSE! "you an idiot"!! Hell, I flunked english a couple of years & I have to correct YOU!!!
Lessismore,
Your FMR1 gene is severely damaged! No wonder you "flunked english a couple of years".
lessismore, was your screen name inspired by your IQ or your penis? Both?
These AlQaida terrorists are playing the same game as all other ME terrorists do - hide behind women and children. If the French start palying the "Politically Correct" war and conduct the war on terrorist's terms, they will lose the war. Period.
Good call. they should establish front lines and start heavy bombing to drive them back.
The civilians will flea. Anyone who stays is a target.
Set up secure refugee camps.
Word spreads fast. anyone who isn't out for Jihad will get the hell out of the way.
flee
France is the country where the Arab terrorists went when they left their countries for safety. Now France is getting back what the rest of the world suffered because they let the terrorists into the country and spew the hatred from their mouths. France was happy when the Nazi's came in during WWII and kissed their asses. France is a second rate country so let them have the Muslim's take over the country
Maybe they will offer the terrorists wine and cheese. F France.
Ron you are an ass and don't know what happened during WWII. some were friendly with our enemy but most were fighting, both my grand father were resistant during the war, they were 13 and 14 years old at the time. who are you to make such judgement ? what did you do in your life? did you had to live for years such dramatic moments? war is very ugly, whoever come back from war are changed forever. I was in the French Marine for 24 months, based in Djibouti Africa back in 88 /1990, we were on high alert many times, and I am very thankfull that we didnt had to go to war, all of us were ready for it but again I am thankfull we didnt.
go back play your video game.
Civilized countries should not be engaging with the ME trash. BOMB, BOMB, BOMB. Kill these retched scum.
Remember, these nuts have Allah on their side.... and time. Unless education comes to the masses, first, they will be able to "neocon" them into religious servitude. Basically, that is the Islamic jihadist's goal.
Neocon them.
Crush your enemy.
See them driven before you.
The outbreak of fighting in Mali is just the precursor for other military engagements in Africa! The country of Mali is mineral rich, and the intervention of the French goverment in their former colony perhaps has something to do with that?!
My biggest concern is that the continent of Africa will be another Afghanistan two/three-fold! From Nigeria in the west, to Kenya in the east, there are pockets of conflicts between central governments and so-called, Islamic-extremists/insurgents - The theater of military conflicts is potentially enormous in these mineral/resource rich regions!!?
Thank you France
The french have a military?????
Yep, and you'd still be singing God Save The Queen without'em.
Hope their armor can stand up to IED's. They should have stayed home and made the US expend their treasure. France is about to find out what this kind of excursion costs in terms of personnel, attacks on French territory, and Euros.
France as been fighting in Africa for a very long time, they just dont make it a prime time TV show