Mali Updates: France in 'direct combat' on ground now!

A French helicopter was shot down in Mali, pilot killed

[link to www.lepoint.fr]

Responding to an urgent plea for help from the Malian government, French troops carried out airstrikes against Islamist fighters, blunting an advance by hundreds of heavily armed extremists, according to French officials and Gen. Carter F. Ham, the top American military commander in Africa. One French helicopter had apparently been downed in the fighting, he said.

[link to www.nytimes.com]

Mali war escalates as French battle Islamist militants

The raid early Saturday in Somalia could have been aimed at preventing al-Shabab fighters from harming the kidnapped French security official in reprisal for the French military intervention in Mali. A Somali intelligence official, who insisted on anonymity because he was not allowed to discuss the case with the news media, said the raid in Bulomarer killed "several" al-Shabab fighters but he had no information on the hostage.
An al-Shabab official confirmed the fighting and said the group held one dead French soldier. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
However, the office of Col. Thierry Burkhard, the French military's main spokesman for overseas operations, said it had no information about any Somalia action.


Read more: [link to www.foxnews.com]

French commandos 'attack militant base in Somalia'

Al-Shabab militants are believed to be holding a French person hostage.

An al-Shabab spokesman told AFP news agency "several" French soldiers had been killed, in a claim which could not be confirmed independently

- BBC

France confirms failed Somali hostage rescue

A French hostage kidnapped in Somalia has been killed during a failed rescue operation, the French defence ministry says.

Two French soldiers were also killed during the raid, a defence ministry statement released on Saturday, said. The hostage was reportedly a French special forces officer, who goes by the pseudonym "Denis".

Additionally 17 Somali fighters were also killed in the fighting between French forces and al-Shabab rebel fighters in southern Somalia.

[link to www.aljazeera.com]

Last Edited by Ger_reG on 01/16/2013 11:48 AM