New airborne operation by engineer paratroopers of French Army on Tessalit airport in Mali

After the seize of Tessalit airport, Friday, February 8, 2013, by French Special Forces parachuted in the area, a new airborne operation was conducted by French Army, Saturday, February 9, 2013, from Abidjan to parachute engineer paratroopers, vehicles, and equipment to repair Tessalit airport trackway.

French engineer paratroopers of the 17e RGP (17th Engineer Airborne Regiment) were parachuted, Saturday, February 9, 2013, on Tessalit Airport, Mali.

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French armed forces control the major part of Mali after 3 weeks since the start of Operation Serval

After a successful three-week operation, French troops are close to recapturing all the key northern towns previously held by the rebels. They took Timbuktu and Gao over the weekend. Early on Wednesday, January 31, 2013, they secured the airport in the desert town of Kidal, meeting no resistance, but were prevented from entering the town itself because of a sandstorm.

French special forces on VPS Panhard light 4x4 tactical vehicle drive through the city of Gao, Northern Mali, Wednesday Jan. 30, 2013.

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French armed forces have secured the town of Kidal last rebel stronghold in Mali

During the night from 29 to 30 January 2013, French troops have taken control of the airport in the northern Malian town of Kidal, the last rebel stronghold in the north, according to the French army and a local official.

French soldiers on armoured vehicle personnel carrier VAB on the way for Timbuktu.

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French armed forces have taken the control of the airport in Kidal

According to the website of the radio Voice of Russia, on Tuesday night, January 29, 2013 the French armed forces force in Mali assumed control over the airport of the city of Kidal, which has been under the radical Islamists’ control until recently. This has been confirmed by an official of the Touareg National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad.

In Timbuktu, a new airborne operation was made with air drop of French soldiers of the 17e RGP (17th Engineer Parachute Regiment), January 29, 2013.

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