French-led
forces who had recaptured the town of Diabaly on Monday, January 21, 2013,
were pushing towards the town of Lere with the aim of "taking control
of Timbuktu" which lies further north. The French army launched a
major offensive to capture the city of Timbuktu.
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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.
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