French Troops Begin Land Assault In Mali, Moving North To Jihadist-Held Diabaly
Source: Associated Press
BAMAKO, Mali - French troops pressed north in Mali toward territory occupied by radical Islamists on Wednesday, launching a land assault which will put soldiers in direct combat "in 1 to 72 hours," military officials said.
French ground operations began overnight, France's military chief of staff Adm. Edouard Guillaud, said on Europe 1 television Wednesday. He stressed that French infantry units "will be fighting directly in coming hours, but I am unable to say whether it is in one hour or in 72 hours. ... Of course, we will be fighting directly."
Armoured vehicles loaded with French troops were seen heading toward Niono. The natural target for the French infantry is Diabaly, located 400 kilometres (250 miles) northeast of the capital and roughly 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Niono. French warplanes have carried out airstrikes on Diabaly since the weekend, when a column of dozens of rebel vehicles cut off the road to Diabaly and seized the town as well as its military camp.
A trickle of refugees left on foot from Diabaly, a town seized two days ago by the jihadists who have held onto it despite a punishing bombing campaign by French fighter jets. The refugees arrived in Niono town, 70 kilometres (43 miles) south of Diabaly, according to residents.
Read more: http://www.globalwinnipeg.com/world/french+troops+begin+land+assault+in+mali+moving+north+to+jihadist-held+diabaly/6442789254/story.html
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)And now they have a bunch of Western hostages.
You never know how these things will go.
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)Aristus
(66,509 posts)Whether the willingness to do so is there remains to be seen. Nobody likes being called a "cheese-eating surrender-monkey". The American hostages may be on their own...
NCarolinawoman
(2,825 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)with a third of the population and the rebels driving round in pick up trucks. Good luck with that.
I must say I do find it odd that the rebel groups have English names given they speak French there.
maxsolomon
(33,449 posts)Mali is too important, historically & musically, to lose to Monotheistic fundamentalism.