More than 50 Islamist militants were killed and four others were arrested in a security operation in Mali last week, according to French officials.
An official with the French military headquarters said drones monitoring the region in northern Mali spotted a convoy of suspected fighters on motorcycles. This prompted France to launch the operation, initially with airstrikes followed by a ground operation by French commandos.
The military also seized weapons and equipment from the militants during the operation which happened on Friday, Defence Minister Florence Parly said.
Parlt said the operation dealt a “significant blow” to a group affiliated with Al Qaeda and “shows once again that terrorist groups cannot act with impunity.”
Parly said she informed Mali’s transitional president Bah Ndaw of the success of the operation adding that she welcomed “the involvement of the transitional authorities in the fight against terrorism.”
Parly pointed out that the West African nation needed democratic elections “as quickly as possible” and the interim government was committed to organizing them.
Parly made the comments after a meeting with Ndaw, the vice-president and the Minister of Defence and veterans.
France runs a separate anti-insurgent mission across the Sahel region with a contingent of more than 5,000 troops.
The European power has lost a number of soldiers in its attempt to stabilize Mali and the greater Sahel region and eliminate the threat of jihadists since its intervention about seven years ago.
