French soldiers discover a pickup truck, bike, two non complete SA7 missiles burried in sand Mali operations

Operation Barkhane

Photos - defense.gouv.fr

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Translated
This week, the strength barkhane continued its operations in northern Mali, with a combination of land shares, air and helicopter intended in particular to recognize points of interest, searching caches and support the Malian armed forces (FAMA) .

From December 9 to 18, 300 French soldiers and 100 vehicles of the Western Desert Battle Group (GTD-O) were deployed south of Tessalit to take action recognition, control, surveillance and search. These actions were intended to disrupt logistical flows terrorist armed groups (GAT) that can pass through the region, important transit point, and traditional terrorist refuge area. The French military also made contact with the inhabitants of the nomad camps, they have provided care nearby.

On 18 December, the GTD-O has switched to the west of Almoustarat, north of Bourem, to continue caches discovered during excavations of the shares in the past week. In the balance sheet these actions have to update large quantities of arms, ammunition, explosives, medical equipment and spare parts. Among the most significant findings, the GTD-O found in the sand a ton of Home Made Explosive (HME) for making IEDs, a pickup truck, a motorcycle, a 82 mm mortar, and two non SA7 missiles complete. On December 20, three officers of the three Fama and Malian police officers took part in the excavations. These recent actions demonstrate the ability of the force Barkhaneà switch quickly from one point to another in order to carry out planned action or opportunity.

In parallel, a liaison detachment and operational support (DLAO) of GTD-O attended a zone control operation in support of Fama in the area of Ansongo, from 20 to 22 December. This operation was carried out in coordination with the Nigerian armed forces engaged simultaneously on the other side of the border. The DLAO, reinforced GTD-O elements, conducted patrols alongside Malian five sections on the axis connecting Ansongo in the Niger border, and in the forest Sorori. At each stage of their journey, French and Mali have made shares to the population distribution of school kits, food and hygiene products, medical consultations. The people of this region to the south of Gao reserved a warm welcome to these patrols, which directly contribute to their safety. This bipartisan operation was controlled from a command post (CP) consisting of Malian and French officers, located in the camp of the MINUSMA in Ansongo and a Nigerian PC. An officer of the strength Barkhaneétait inserted in it to support the coordination of forces.


The Operation Barkhane includes 3 000 troops whose mission, in partnership with the countries of the Sahel G5 is to fight against the armed terrorist groups in the Sahel-Saharan Africa.