French and Malian soldiers have pushed back the rebels who has infiltrated the city of Timbuktu

Malian soldiers backed by French fighter aircraft have battled rebels in Timbuktu after they used a car bomb as cover to infiltrate the northern desert city, sources say. A Malian soldier and three rebel fighters were believed to have been killed in Sunday's fighting in the ancient Saharan trading hub 1,000km north of the capital Bamako.

French army soldiers with armoured vehicles VAB and VBL arrive in the city of Timbuktu to help Malian troops to fight the rebels infiltrated in the city.

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Operation Doro by French Armed forces and Malian troops in the region of Gao

From February 27 until now, french armed forces in coordination with the Malian army have conducted Operation Doro in the east of Gao, between the cities of Djebok and Telatai. The Doro Operation was held under the command of the Colonel Bert, commander of 92th Infantry Regiment (92eRI) and the support of French combat helicopters, engineer units and other military units of French Army Operation Serval.

VBCI 8x8 armoured infantry fighting vehicle of the 92th Infantry Regiment of French Army were used during the Operation Doro in the region of Gao.

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Heavy fighting for the French Army in rocky mountains of North Mali against Islamist rebels

The combat of the French Army in rugged Sahara Desert mountains is growing harder, and there's a rising threat that the militants will turn to suicide bombings, hostage-taking and other guerrilla tactics. The French military struck at Islamist militants dug in along the remote, rocky mountain ranges of northern Mali over the last week, killing scores, a French military spokesman said Friday, March 1, 2013.

French soldiers stand guard outside the destroyed main market in Gao, March 2, 2013. French soldiers visited the market on Saturday, nine days after it was destroyed during fighting between radical Islamists and Malian and French soldiers.

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A French soldier was killed during intense fighting against Islamist rebels in Mali

A French soldier has died in some of the most intense fighting thus far in the seven-week-old military campaign to push back a jihadist advance in Mali, officials said Sunday, March 3, 2013. Parachutist Corporal Cedric Charenton was killed Saturday night in an assault in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains along the Algerian border, where the jihadists have retrenched as French troops have swept through the country's north.

French troops secure the area where a suicide bomber blew himself up in the northern city of Gao, Mali, February 10, 2013.

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French Air Force operations continue in Mali with 90 missions in 3 days including 30 air strikes

French Air Force operations continue in Mali with more than 90 missions including nearly thirty dedicated to air strikes and 35 strategic transport missions for the support of ground forces. These air strikes have enabled to destroy several rebel targets.

French Air Force continues operations in Mali with fighter aircraft Mirage 2000D and Rafale.

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Germany will extend its support for the French military operation Serval in Mali

The German government wants to extend its support for international and French operation Serval in West African Mali, possibly including A310 MRTT-type tanker aircraft, military trainers and medical personnel. Germany’s Air Force has already sent three C-160 Transall ESS transport aircraft with 75 soldiers to Dakar, Senegal. Their job is to transport troops of the Economic Community Of West African States to the Malian capital Bamako and Sevare-Mopti.

Germany’s Air Force has already sent three C-160 Transall ESS transport aircraft with 75 soldiers to Dakar, Senegal.

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First fighting for the french soldiers in Gao against Islamist rebels infiltrated in the city

Black-robed Islamist rebels armed with AK-47 assault rifles infiltrated Gao in wooden boats, Sunday, February 10, 2013, to launch a surprise attack on the most populous city in northern Mali, two weeks after French and Malian troops ousted the jihadists (With Video).

French soldiers secure the evacuation of foreigners during exchanges of fire with jihadists in Gao, northern Mali, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013

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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 Army Special Forces were parachuted on the city of Tessalit to take the control of airport

French army soldiers of Special Forces were parachuted on the city of Tessalit during the the night of Friday, February 8, 2013, to take the control of the airport. Followed by an air assault of paratroopers of the 1er RCP (1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment) to strengthen the Special Forces, and secure the airport (With Video).

Drop of French Special Forces paratroopers over the airport of Tessalit, picture take by a Harfang drone during the night of Friday, February 8, 2013.

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155mmm self-propelled howitzer CAESAR Nexter enters the battle Operation Serval in Mali

French AMX-10RCR 6x6 reconnaissance armoured vehicles and CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers of French Army have left the city of Niamey, capital of Niger, Thursday, January 31, 2013, to join their operation area in the region of Gao, located more than 400 km of Niamey. French air operations continued with more than 70 missions with about twenty dedicated for air strikes. These air operations have resulted the destruction of five major targets, mainly logistics facilities and training centers in the area Aguelhok.

French forces further increase their firepower in Mali with deployment of 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer CAESAR.

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More than 1,800 Chadian soldiers with French troops in Kidal to secure the city

Some 1,800 Chadian soldiers have entered Kidal, the last major town in northern Mali under rebel control, the French military says. French-led forces captured Kidal's airport last week but have not yet secured the town itself. The French soldiers meanwhile continue control of the airport thanks to the reinforcement of two sections of paratroopers from the 1e RCP (1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment).

French and African soldiers continue to control the area of Niger River and strengthen the military forces in the cities of Timbuktu and Gao.

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French armed forces launched several air strikes in northern Mali to target rebels training centres

French armed forces launched several air strikes, Saturday, February 2, 2013, overnight in the country's northern region which has been in hands of Islamist rebels since 10 months, spokesman for the French army said Sunday, February 3, 2013. Thirty jets targeted Islamist militants' training and communication centres around Tessalit - a mountainous area near the Algerian border.

A French fighter aircraft Rafale take-off for a combat mission over 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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United Kingdom will sent 200 soldiers to Mali in a training role to aid the French Army

United Kingdom will sent about 240 troops to West Africa in a training role to aid the French-led mission against Islamist rebels in Mali, the government confirmed on Tuesday, January 29, 2013.

A handout picture from the British Ministry of Defence shows a French VAB armoured vehicle personnel carrier being unloaded from a British Royal Air Force C-17 transport plane, which landed at Bamako airport, Mali.

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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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After the capture of Timbuktu airport France continued to strengthen its military power in Mali

After the capture of the airport of Timbuktu and the city Gao by French armed forces Sunday and Monday, January 28, 2013, the two strategic locations are now strengthened by units of the Malian army. French Special Forces continue to secure the area around the Timbuktu airport to restore air traffic and for the support of ground forces.

French armed forces have seized Mali's desert city of Timbuktu in a lightning advance north as fleeing Islamists.

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French paratroopers of 2e REP Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment were parachuted on Timbuktu

French army spokesman Colonel Thierry Burkhard has announced, on Monday morning, January 28, 2013, French soldiers of the 2e REP (2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment) were parachuted into strategic points overnight to prepare the way for Malian forces to recapture Timbuktu from Islamist rebels.

French-led troops Saturday seized the airport and a key bridge serving the Islamist stronghold of Gao in a major boost to a 16-day-old offensive to rout Al Qaeda-linked rebels from Mali's sprawling desert north.

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Malian and French troops have captured the airport of Timbuktu

Malian and French soldiers have captured Timbuktu airport, Sunday, January 27, 2013, as they continue to retake territory from al-Qaeda-linked rebels in northern Mali. A Malian military source said the French and Malian troops had met no resistance up to the gates of Timbuktu and controlled the airport. Positions around the airport Gao were reinforced by an armored unit of the 21st RIMa and African soldiers from Niger and Chad.

Positions around the airport Gao were reinforced by an armored unit of the 21st RIMa and African soldiers from Niger and Chad.

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Air-land operations by French Army Special Forces and Malian troops to seize the city of Gao

Over the past 36 hours, the French armed forces involved in the operation Serval and many Malian troops have led air-land operations that helped seize the airport and the bridge in the city of Gao and destroy several Islamist terrorist groups.

A destroyed BTR-60 armoured personnel carrier of Islamist rebels near GAO, January 26, 2013.

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