A helicopter pilot has become the first pronounced French military casualty of the country’s day-old operation in Mali. France has launched air strikes and deployed hundreds of troops in the West African country.
A French helicopter pilot died during fighting against Islamist rebels in Mali, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Saturday.
Le Drian confirmed that the pilot had died on Friday, but he did not comment on whether rebels had shot down the victim’s helicopter.
The defense minister also said that the French military had continued airstrikes in the war-torn West African country on Saturday morning, and that it had deployed “several hundred” French troops for the operation. French airstrikes, which began on Friday, have helped Mali’s government forces to push back Islamist rebels from the central town of Konna.
“The Malian army has retaken Konna with the help of our military partners. We are there now,” Lieutenant Colonel Diaran Kone told the Reuters news agency.
European alarm, French action
The capture of Konna by rebel groups on Thursday prompted alarm from western governments.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called on Friday for “accelerated international engagement” and said the bloc would fast-track plans to send 200 troops to train forces in Mali.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle had previously made it clear that, for now, Germany would not send troops to Mali. The Foreign Ministry has called on all Germans to leave the West African country.
Although other foreign powers have not joined France in its mission in Mali, French President Francois Hollande has said that United Nations Security Council resolutions provide for the intervention in the former French colony. Earlier Friday, he said that France would stop any further southward drive by Islamist rebels.
“French forces brought their support this afternoon to Malian army units to fight against terrorist elements,” Hollande told reporters. “This operation will last as long as is necessary.”
DW
Ok we want them in Congo against Kagame’s terror also!Who would be supper power?