More than 800 French soldiers with armoured vehicles are deployed near Bamako airport 1501134

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French Armed Forces Operation Serval in Mali
 
 
Tuesday, January 15, 2013, 03:10 PM
 
More than 800 French soldiers with armoured vehicles are deployed near Bamako airport.
Since the night of January 13, 2013, the French Armed Forces in Mali continued its bombing raids with a total of 20 air missions with Mirage 2000D and Rafale fighter aircraft stationed in N'Djamena, Chad. These operations have enabled the attack of a dozen targets primarily on the cities of Diabali and Douenza. On January 14, the operations were carried out with a strong effort on the Diabaly sector to stop the progression of Islamist terrorist groups.
     
Since the night of January 13, 2013, the French Armed Forces in Mali continued its flight operations with a total of 20 air missions with Mirage 2000D and Rafale fighter aircraft stationed in N'Djamena, Chad. These operations have enabled the attack of a dozen targets primarily on the cities of Diabali and Douenza. On January 14, the operations were carried out with a strong effort on the Diabaly sector to stop the progression of Islamist terrorist groups.
     

In parallel with air operations, France continues to increase the number of its troops in Mali. Monday, January 14, 2013, two Mirage F1 CR based in Chad have been repositioned in Bamako Airport.

Monday, in the evening, around 200 French soldiers with sixty armoured vehicles arrived in Bamako. These soldiers come from the 1er RHP, 3er RPIMa and 17e RGP of French Armed Forces. They left the military camp of Port-Bouet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Saturday, January 13, 2012, to rejoin Mali by land.

During the night of Tuesday, January 15, 2013, several large military transport aircraft C-17 from the British Royal Air Force will be used to supply armoured vehicles of the 2e RIMA soldiers, currently stationed at the National Airport of Bamako.

There are now 800 French soldiers deployed in Mali and nearly 1,700 in total participating in the operation Serval from French military bases in Africa.