More than 600 vehicles and armoured of French Army on the way for Lere to conquest Timbuktu 2601133

More than 600 vehicles, including armored vehicles have left the city of Niono yesterday in the morning, January 25, 2013, towards the town of Lere.

The goal is to capture and secure the city of Léré, before moving to Timbuktu. To ensure such a level of progression, the French forces have deployed colossal means.

The commanders of French and Malian forces, who set up their operations center in the nearby town of Niono, said their forces were moving slowly toward Diabaly after reports that Islamist fighters had abandoned their turbans and flowing robes to blend in with local residents.

Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said French Rafale and Mirage planes had bombed Islamists' camps and logistics bases around the ancient caravan town of Timbuktu as well as Gao, the largest city of the north. The strikes were aimed at preventing Islamist fighters from recovering to launch a counterattack.

According to some unconfirmed information, most of the rebels fled Timbuktu for the desert after French planes on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, bombed the militants' headquarters, which was built by former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. However, some militants remain in the fabled city.

At the same time, French and Malian troops Friday, January 25, 2013, advanced on the key Islamist stronghold of Gao after recapturing the northern town of Hombori as the extremists bombed a strategic bridge to thwart a new front planned in the east.

A Malian security source said the troops would press on to the eastern city of Gao, one of the three major northern towns along with Kidal and Timbuktu, where the Al Qaeda-linked Islamists have imposed brutal sharia for 10 months.