Jihadist Ambush Malian Convoy Killing Dozens Of Malian Troops

Thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed in Mali despite the presence of thousands of French and UN troops [File: Malin Palm/Reuters]

France 24: Dozens of Malian troops killed or missing in jihadist attack

Dozens of troops were either killed or are missing after jihadists ambushed their convoy in central Mali, military sources said on Monday.

About a dozen vehicles came under attack on Sunday at Bouka Were, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Mauritanian border, a senior military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Some of the vehicles were able to extricate themselves from the ambush, but of the 64 troops who had been in the convoy, only about 20 were present at a roll call, the source said, adding that the precise number of dead was unknown.

"A search is under way to determine the fate of soldiers who have been listed missing," he said.

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More News On Today's Jihadist Attack In Mali

Dozens of troops 'dead or missing' in northwest Mali attack -- Al Jazeera
40 Malian troops dead or missing after ambush on convoy -- Daily Sabah/AFP
Two UN peacekeepers killed in northern Mali attack -- Al Jazeera
UN condemns attack in northern Mali which killed two peacekeepers -- CGTN

Jihadists Go On The Rampage In North-Eastern Mali Killing 40 Tuaregs

Malian army soldiers and Tuareg have been fighting the jihadists recently, inflicting defeats on them which have in turn led to reprisals

BBC: Mali: Tuaregs killed in 'jihadist revenge' attacks

More than 30 members of the Tuareg community have been killed in two separate attacks by suspected jihadists in north-eastern Mali, officials say.

The attacks happened in the remote Menaka region on Thursday and Friday.

They are believed to have been carried out in revenge after Tuareg attacks on jihadist bases in recent weeks.

Much of north-eastern Mali is lawless despite a 2015 peace deal between the government and Tuareg rebels and the presence of an international force.

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More News On The Ongoing Violence In Northern Mali

Suspected jihadists kill 40 Tuaregs in north Mali - governor -- Reuters
Suspected jihadists kill over 30 Tuaregs in Mali -- AFP
Jihadists kill 30 Tuaregs in Mali as the al-Qaeda linked militants step up attacks on civilians after recent defeats -- Daily Mail
Mali: Suspected jihadists kill more than 30 -- DW
Suspected Jihadists Kill More Than 40 Tuaregs in Mali - Reports -- Sputnik

Civil War Returns To Mali

Senegalese police officers serving with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), patrol the streets of the city of Gao, in Mali. UN Photo/Marco Dormino

Al Jazeera: Mali: Up to 20 dead as fighting threatens peace deal

Pro-government militia and Tuareg rebels clash in northern town of Kidal, raising fears for a fraying peace agreement.

Up to 20 people have been killed and at least 40 others wounded, according to health workers, in two days of fighting in northern Mali threatening a shaky year-old peace deal.

The Tuareg-dominated Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and rival Gatia militia fighters, who had peacefully shared control of the town of Kidal since February, clashed for a second day on Friday, the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said in a statement

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More News On The Ongoing Fighting In Mali

Up to 20 dead as northern Mali fighting threatens peace deal -- Reuters
Mali rocked by renewed violence in Kidal -- France 24
Separatist fighting breaks out in Mali -- DW
Fears for peace deal as fighting flares in Mali's desert north -- Reuters
Fighting in northern Mali threatens peace deal -- Al Jazeera
Mali: UN mission condemns renewed clashes between armed groups in country's north -- UN News Centre
Mali: The North Loses Patience -- The Strategy page

Heavy Fighting Returns To The African Country Of Mali

Reuters: Fighting erupts over northern Mali town of Kidal

Fighting broke out in the town of Kidal in Mali's desert north on Thursday between pro-government militia and a Tuareg-dominated rebel coalition, town residents and a fighter said.

The violence highlights the increasing fragility of a U.N.-backed deal signed a year ago between the government in the southern capital Bamako and northern armed groups that was meant to end a decades-long cycle of uprisings.

The sound of gunfire rang out in Kidal, one of northern Mali's main towns, from around 4 p.m. (1600 GMT) and sent residents fleeing indoors for cover as clashes quickly spread.

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More News On Heavy Fighting Returning To The African Country Of Mali

Rebels, pro-government group clash in northern Mali -- AP
Mali attack: Gunmen kill 17 soldiers at military base -- BBC
Mali Extends State Of Emergency After Series Of Deadly Attacks -- NPR
Mali Introduces 3-Month State of Emergency Amid Islamist Violence -- Sputnik
Mali declares state of emergency after attack on soldiers -- DW
Mali: Surge in Violence Hits Aid Delivery to Millions in Mali - Agencies -- AllAfrica.com/Reuters

Tuareg Separatists Have Defeated The Mali Army At Kidal

Mali Army Flees Kidal After Tuareg Separatists Seize Control -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Mali government forces fled the northern city of Kidal yesterday after they were attacked by ethnic Tuareg separatist rebels.

After several hours of fighting “our defense forces, weakened by coordination and intelligence problems, had to retreat under heavy gunfire,” the government said in a statement read on state TV late yesterday and published on the presidency’s Facebook Inc. page. “The army is regrouping itself, the situation is closely monitored by the highest authorities of the country.”

The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, or MNLA, said it was in control of Kidal after repelling an attack by the army, according to the group’s website. French and African peacekeepers remained neutral during the clashes, the organization said.

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More News On The Return Of Civil War In Mali

Mali Tuareg separatists seize several northern towns -- Reuters
Mali in crisis as rebels take control of key northern town -- AFP
Malian Forces Retreat From Rebel-Controlled Kidal -- Voice of America
Malian hostage of battle for Kidal tells of 'carnage' -- AFP
Mali leader calls for ceasefire with Tuaregs -- Al Jazeera
Mali admits military setback in northern town -- Middle East Online
EU demands 'immediate' ceasefire in northern Mali town -- AFP
Fighting between Tuareg and Malian army signals renewed insurgency, posing high risk of jihadists regaining territorial control -- IHS Janes 360
France sends 100 extra troops to Mali after clashes -- Defence Web/Reuters

Heavy Fighting Reported Between The Malian Army And The Tuareg Separatist Group MNLA

Malian Army Takes Village From Tuareg Rebels -- Voice of America

DAKAR, SENEGAL — Heavy fighting broke out Wednesday between the Malian army and the Tuareg separatist group MNLA (National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad) near the northern town of Anefis, which is 100 kilometers from the MNLA stronghold of Kidal.

The clashes mark the first fighting between the two sides in more than a year and could derail attempts to find a negotiated solution to the crisis ahead of nationwide elections July 28.

A military spokesman in the capital, Bamako, said the army has seized Anefis and is preparing for an assault on Kidal, 100 kilometers to the north.

Ten rebels were killed in the fighting and 28 were taken as prisoners, according to Army Commander Colonel Didier Dacko.

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More News On the Conflict Between Mali Troops And Tuareg Separatists

Malian troops launch assault on Tuareg rebel bastion -- France 24/AFP
Malian army takes town south of Kidal, 1st territorial gain without French help -- Washington Post/AP
Advancing Malian army clashes with Tuareg rebels -- Global Post/Reuters
Mali army clashes with separatist MNLA rebels -- BBC
Mali’s Army Prepares to Seize Touareg-Held Town of Kidal -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Mali army launches assault on rebels -- News24
Mali Wants Its Army in Kidal -- AP

Mali War News Updates -- January 17, 2013

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If nothing else, the graphic above reveals the scale of the task Paris has set itself. French marines are dealing with no fewer than half a dozen actors in the region -- not all of them hostile, but still confusing. Airstrikes have been geographically distributed, a testament to how diffuse the rebels are (reports suggest the Islamists have stockpiled munitions and supplies around the country in preparation for an extended engagement). UN-backed forces are still weeks away -- which raises one question: Just what are the French getting themselves into? The Atlantic

Prepare For Refugee Crisis In Mali -- CNN

The French military intervention in Mali is just a few days old, and there is plenty of uncertainty about the operation’s strategy and potential outcomes. But one thing is clear: as this campaign escalates, more civilians are being forced to flee their homes – exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that has plagued Mali for more than a year. Governments and aid agencies in the region must be prepared for the worst and take steps immediately to assist this new wave of displaced Malians.

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More News On The Conflict In Mali

Mali Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
French surround Malian town, await African troops -- Reuters
Mali Towns Marked by Fighting, Airstrikes -- ABC News/AP
French forces fighting 'hand-to-hand' in Diabaly -- The Guardian
French, Malian troops expand ground operations -- Washington Post
Mali conflict: French 'fighting Islamists in Diabaly' -- BBC
France Begins Ground Operations in Mali -- Voice of America
Mali conflict: France boosts troop numbers -- BBC
France increases troop deployment to Mali -- Al Jazeera
French troops in Mali increased to 1,400 -- Euronews
EU to Send Training Mission to Mali -- Wall Street Journal
EU OKs sending military training mission to Mali -- AP
EU states agree on military training mission to Mali -- Reuters
Residents flee as French troops begin land assault in Mali -- Vancouver Sun/AP
Mali Residents Flee Rebel-Held Town -- Voice of America
Mali refugees flee across borders as fighting blocks humanitarian aid -- The Guardian
US Advocates Political Solution in Mali -- Voice of America
This Is The Arsenal Hitting Mali’s Militants -- Danger Room
Mali insurgency followed 10 years of U.S. counterterrorism programs -- Walter Pincus, Washington Post
‘Mali a potential long-term, Afghanistan-like conflict for France’ -- RT
The Next Quagmire? -- Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker
Can France achieve its goals in Mali? -- Jonathan Marcus, BBC
Six reasons events in Mali matter -- Tim Lister, CNN

Commentaries And Analysis On The Mali War

Mali's Rebels Hold The Advantage In A Ground War On Desert Plains -- The Guardian

Islamist Tuareg fighters are masters of the hit-and-run guerilla tactics that suit conditions in the Sahara

Fortunately for the French, there's been no sign of the surface-to-air missiles that the Salafist mujahideen in northern Mali are reported to have stolen from Libya. But taking control of the skies is one thing, winning a ground war and restoring peace is an altogether different prospect.

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Commentaries And Analysis On The Mali Conflict

Analysis: Mali's Islamist groups united by war threat -- Reuters
Q&A: The strength of Mali’s militants -- Financial Times
Mali militants: who's who among Islamist rebels -- The Guardian
Mali: Crisis - Intervention Strategy -- allAfrica.com
France: How was it dragged into the Malian conflict? -- Paul Melly, BBC
Why Malians are welcoming French intervention with open arms -- Afua Hirsch, the Guardian
9 questions about Mali you were too embarrassed to ask -- Max Fisher, Washington Post
Mali: Forget the AU, Where Are the Malians in Mali? -- Sunny Ntayombya, allAfrica.com
Rebel advance forced Mali intervention -- Tobias Feakin, The Australian
Q and A: Why the conflict in Mali matters -- CTV News
France Alone Cannot Defend Europe's Interests -- Zaki Laidi, Project Syn.
Can Mali Be Saved from the Islamists? -- Coughlin & Blair, The Telegraph
France Shoots First, Builds Coalition Later -- Eric Morse, Ottawa Citizen
The war’s in Mali, but the danger is international -- Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Globe and Mail
Mali: the danger of mission creep on al-Qaida's new frontier -- Richard Norton-Taylor and Nick Hoplins, The Guardian
A Widening War in Mali -- New York Times editorial
Those Unilateral French: A welcome intervention in Mali, while the U.N. keeps talking. -- Wall Street Journal editorial
Mali isn't just France's or Africa's problem. It's ours too. -- Paul Whitefield, L.A. Times
Why Mali mission is crucial -- Bruce Loudon, The Australian
After French intervention in Mali against Islamist rebels, now what? -- Christian Science Monitor editorial
Mali risks lurching into mayhem and madness -- Sydney Morning Herald
Mali: Combat Buys Times for Diplomacy -- Austin Bay, Strategy Page
French President Francois Hollande faces a potential Mali quagmire -- Tristan McConnell, Global Post
Mali - No End to Conflict in Sight -- allAfrica.com
Mali: The Next Afghanistan -- Paul Doolan, Technorati
An Invalid Reason to Rescue Mali -- Paul Pillar, The National Interest
How bad are the bad guys in Mali? The answer, in four powerful paragraphs -- Max Fisher, Washington Post
Mali: a guide to the conflict -- Mark Tran, The Guardian

Who Is Sending Troops To Fight In The Mali War

U.S. Delays Support, Cites Legal Concerns-- Wall Street Journal

A U.S. decision about aiding France's military campaign in Mali has been delayed by complicated policy and legal concerns, administration officials said, including whether the support would facilitate French strikes against rebels who may not pose a direct threat to the U.S.

Senior U.S. military officials voiced early support for the French request but some Obama administration officials have been more cautious, reflecting White House concerns about being pulled into a new conflict, according to U.S. and Western officials. "The devil's in the details," one administration official said.

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More News On Who Is Participating In the Mali Conflict

French action in Mali exposes absence of African neighbors, Western allies -- Washington Post
U.S. weighs military support for France’s campaign against Mali militants -- Washington Post
Malian rebels vow to 'open gates of hell' as U.S. weighs policy options -- CNN
Panetta: No US troops on the ground in Mali -- Stars And Stripes
Panetta Answers Mali Questions in Europe -- US Department of Defense
Panetta: No US Troops to Mali -- Voice of America

USA should do more to help France in Mali, says House chairman -- USA Today
Mali: Italy to offer France logistical support -- The Telegraph
Nigeria raises troops, EU lends military support to Mali’s operation -- The Guardian (Nigeria)
Nigeria’s Role in the Mali Intervention -- Council On Foreign Relations
ECOWAS to mobilise troops for Mali as soon as possible-Ouattara -- Reuters
Niger says sending 500 soldiers to Mali operation -- Niger
African troops to deploy within 48 hours: Mali -- Reuters
Germany offers transport planes to fly W. African troops to Mali -- Reuters
Germany pledges two transport planes for Mali -- AFP
Germany to send transport planes to Mali -- Deutsche Welle
Mali: Britain 'Not Sending' Ground Troops -- SKY News
British support for Mali mission will not mean 'army boots on the ground', Cameron insists as French take on Al-Qaeda militants -- Daily Mail
Canadian C-17 joins allied efforts en route to Mali -- CBC
Canada joins U.S. in leading from behind on Mali -- Globe and Mail
Mali: who is doing what? -- The Guardian

War In Mali -- News Updates January 16, 2013

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French forces have bombed rebel bases in Mali, where Islamist rebels have threatened to advance on the capital Bamako from their strongholds in the north. France said it had decided to act to stop the offensive, which could create "a terrorist state at the doorstep of France and Europe".

French Troops Move North As Mali Rebels Dig In -- New York Times

BAMAKO, Mali — After fierce bombardment by the French military, Islamist insurgents in Mali have hunkered down to fight again, facing a column of French ground forces moving north from here on Wednesday in a phalanx of armored vehicles and preparing for battle “within hours.”

Some unconfirmed reports in the French news media said close-quarters combat was under way in a village that had been overrun by the Islamists, but Defense Ministry officials declined to comment. Other reports spoke of fighting by French special forces and Malian government troops confronting insurgents who were reported to have regrouped after French airstrikes on Monday.

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More News On The Conflict In Mali

Mali conflict: French 'fighting Islamists in Diabaly' -- BBC
Mali: French forces in ‘street battles’ in Diabali -- Euronews
French Troops 'In Direct Combat' With Mali Islamist Rebels -- Radio Free Europe
France Begins Ground Offensive in Mali -- Bloomberg Businessweek
France in 'direct combat' in Mali within hours -- AP
French troops set to engage Mali militants 'in coming hours' -- Christian Science Monitor/Reuters
Mali: French troops in direct combat with insurgents 'within hours' -- The Guardian
France Begins Ground Operations in Mali -- Voice of America
France launches ground offensive in Mali -- Euronews
French Troops Take on Coordinated, Entrenched Islamists in Mali -- Voice of America
Clash erupts after rebels in Diabaly surrounded by Malian, French forces -- Xinhuanet
France Continues Mali Air Strikes, Sends Tank Convoy North -- Voice of America
Mali: French troops head north into unknown -- Mark Doyle, BBC
French triple troops in Mali, prepare for ground assault -- Stars and Stripes/AP
In darkness, French troops hit the ground in Mali -- AFP
Help on the way as French take fight to Mali rebels -- The Australian/AFP
Malian rebels vow to 'open gates of hell' as U.S. weighs policy options -- CNN
Africa's French take Islamist threats in stride -- Reuters
France pledges to fight until Mali's Islamist rebels are wiped out -- The Guardian
France vows to halt jihadist charge in Mali -- CNN
France, Germany and Italy: Terrorists in Mali must go -- CNN
Tens of Thousands Displaced by Intensified Mali Clashes -- Voice of America

Mali War News Updates -- January 15, 2013

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French forces have bombed rebel bases in Mali, where Islamist rebels have threatened to advance on the capital Bamako from their strongholds in the north. France said it had decided to act to stop the offensive, which could create "a terrorist state at the doorstep of France and Europe".

French Pledge More Troops For Mali As Airstrikes Continue -- New York Times

PARIS — France ordered new airstrikes overnight against Islamist fighters in central Mali, as the government in Paris pledged on Tuesday to commit more troops to a potentially protracted campaign against extremists pressing south from a jihadist state they have forged in the desert north of the country.

The assessment that the conflict could be long and perilous seemed reflected in a call by France on Tuesday for Arab support to bolster an African force to fight the insurgents.

“We — not just the French, but all nations — have to combat terrorism,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said during a visit to the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf, announcing that donors would meet later this month, probably in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss financing an offensive against the rebels in Mali, Reuters reported.

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More News On The Conflict In Mali

Mali Islamists gain ground despite French fighting -- AP
Mali Fighting: Tens Of Thousands Flee New Violence -- Reuters
French lead all-night bombing campaign in Mali town of Diabaly, conquered by Islamists -- Washington Post/AP
French Planes Bomb Town Seized by Mali Islamists -- Voice of America
French Strikes Continue in Mali Islamists Claim Control -- Bloomberg Businessweek
France steps up Mali operation, Africans try to catch up -- Reuters
Hollande sees African troops in Mali in a week -- Reuters
Mali conflict: West African troops to arrive 'in days' -- BBC
France to increase Mali force to 2,500 -- Financial Times
France to send more troops to join Mali offensive -- CNN
Mali conflict: France to increase troop numbers -- BBC
France expected to more than triple Mali troop numbers -- The Guardian
French to send 1,000 more troops to Mali; US playing supporting role -- NBC
U.S. moves to bolster French military campaign in Mali -- L.A. Times
US Prepares to Help France in Mali - With Caution -- Voice of America
International Community Backs Mali Military Intervention, Plans More Action -- RTT
Regional Defense Chiefs to Meet Over Mali Crisis -- Voice of America
Mali rebel fighters better prepared than first thought: French officials -- Christian Science Monitor
French public backs Mali intervention, but for how long? -- Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor
Mali: France facing a formidable enemy -- Gregory Mann, The Guardian
Analysts: French Military Walks Fine Line in Mali -- Voice of America
France stands tall: Leading vs. Mali Islamist threat -- Benny Avni, New York Post
Why France is taking on Mali extremists -- NBC
Al Qaeda’s Dangerous Play in Mali -- Bruce Riedel, Daily Beast
A Widening War in Mali -- New York Times editorial

What Is The U.S. Role In The Mali Conflict

 

US Sharing Intel On Mali With France, Eyes More Support -- Reuters 

* U.S. has 'commitment' to keep al Qaeda on run
* Pentagon chief to discuss Azores drawdown decision
* Likely Panetta's last trip abroad as defense secretary

LISBON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The United States is sharing information with French forces battling al Qaeda-affiliated militants in Mali and is considering providing logistics, surveillance and airlift capability as well, U.S. defense officials said on Monday.

"We have made a commitment that al Qaeda is not going to find anyplace to hide," U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters on his plane as he began a week-long tour of European capitals.

Just as the United States pursued militants affiliated with al Qaeda to northern Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, "we have a responsibility to make sure that al Qaeda does not establish a base for operations in North Africa in Mali," he said.

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More News On The U.S. Role In The Mali Conflict  

U.S. looks to support France's Mali offensive -- CNN
US Pledges Help to France Against Al Qaeda Rebels in Mali -- ABC News
Panetta says US giving intelligence gathering, other aid to French forces in Mali -- Washington Post/AP Leon Panetta Says U.S. Has Pledged to Help France in Mali -- New York Times
US ready to help French forces in Mali: Panetta -- AFP
French to send 1,000 more troops to Mali; U.S. playing supporting role -- NBC News
Panetta: U.S. Support to French in Mali Aimed at al-Qaida -- US Department of Defense
Why US is helping France fight Islamist forces in Mali, Somalia -- Anna Mulrine, Christian Science Monitor

African Forces To Arrive In Mali Soon

French forces have bombed rebel bases in Mali, where Islamist rebels have threatened to advance on the capital Bamako from their strongholds in the north. France said it had decided to act to stop the offensive, which could create "a terrorist state at the doorstep of France and Europe".

West African Army Chiefs To Approve Mali Troops Plan -- Reuters

(Reuters) - West African defense chiefs will on Tuesday approve plans to speed up the deployment of African troops against Islamist rebels in northern Mali, with some regional soldiers seen arriving next week.

France has already poured hundreds of troops into Mali and carried out days of air strikes in a vast desert area seized last year by an Islamist alliance that combines al Qaeda's north African wing AQIM with Mali's home-grown MUJWA and Ansar Dine rebel groups.


Western and regional powers are concerned the insurgents will use Mali's north as a launchpad for international attacks.

"On January 15, the committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff will meet in Bamako to approve the contingency plan," the mission head of the ECOWAS grouping of West African states, Aboudou Toure Cheaka, told Reuters.

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More News On Africa's Commitment To The Fight in Mali

Mali conflict: African troops due in 'days or weeks' -- BBC
Africans urged to take over Mali battle -- The Australian
US Working to Speed Deployment of ECOWAS Troops to Mali -- Voice of America
A look at what countries are providing to Mali in its fight against Islamic extremists -- Washington Post/AP

My Comment: They are committing troops and resources .... but the process is slow.

Commentaries, Opinions, Editorials, And Analysis On France's Intervention In Mali

With French Air Strikes, Has The War To Retake Northern Mali Begun? (+video) -- Peter Tinti, Christian Science Monitor

Today's expansion of the French air campaign beyond central Mali has left many wondering if the war has started – without much international coordination.

France widened its military intervention in the African nation of Mali today beyond targets in the center of the country, sending fighter jets to the north to hammer training camps, infrastructure, and logistics depots used by Islamist rebels with ties to Al Qaeda.

"The president is totally determined that we must eradicate these terrorists who threaten the security of Mali, our own country, and Europe," said France's Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on French television.

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Commentaries, Opinions, Editorials, And Analysis On France's Intervention In Mali

France goes it alone -- The Economist
Hollande, Long Seen as Soft, Shifts Image With Firm Stance -- Steven Erlanger, New York Times
France’s Mali Force Faces Struggle to Widen Success -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Beau Geste in Mali -- Roger Kaplan, American Spectator
The bombing of Mali highlights all the lessons of western intervention -- Glen Greenwald, The Guardian
France's lonely intervention in Mali -- Simon Tisdall, The Guardian
Hollande: the 'indecisive' French president who intervened in Africa -- Pierre Haski, The Guardian
Sending soldiers to Mali may be the only solution -- Jennifer Welsh, Globe and Mail
France Takes the Lead in Mali -- Max Boot, Commentary
Mali Shadow War Now Being Fought From the Sky -- David Axe, Danger Room
Prof Gaffney: 'Mali intervention is France's big test' -- BBC
France's Mali intervention a risk for 'new' Hollande -- Hugh Schofield, BBC
Analysis: Mali - one African war France could not avoid -- Mark John and John Irish, Reuters
World media split on Mali intervention -- BBC
Mali: Vive La France -- Elliott Abrams, Council On Foreign Relations
French surprise intervention in Mali aims to stop terrorists, but will it trap Paris, too? -- Washington Post/AP

Mali War News Updates -- January 14, 2013

Mali Islamists Counter Attack, Promise France Long War -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Al Qaeda-linked Islamist rebels launched a counter-offensive on Monday in central Mali after four days of air strikes by French warplanes on their strongholds in the desert north, promising to drag France into a long and brutal Afghanistan-style ground war.

France intensified its air raids on Sunday using Rafale aircraft and Gazelle attack helicopters to pummel training camps at the heart of the vast area seized by rebels in April, while pouring hundreds of troops into the capital Bamako.

French planes were in action again on Monday.

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More News On The War In Mali

Town Falls to Malian Insurgents -- Wall Street Journal
Malian Town Falls to Islamist Rebels, France Says -- New York Times
French defense minister says Malian town of Diabaly has been overrun by Islamist extremists -- Washington Post/AP
Islamists Seize New Town in Mali -- Voice of America
Mali Islamists seize town amid French intervention -- BBC
Mali rebels have taken town of Diabaly - French govt -- Reuters
France Says Diabaly Falls to Malian Insurgents -- AP
Mali town falls to Islamists -- The Australian

France To Expand Military Operation Against Mali Islamists -- RTT
French Strikes in Mali Continue as Islamists Vow Revenge -- Bloomberg Businessweek
French planes bomb north Mali city of Gao as more countries join battle against Islamists -- Washington Post/AP
France bombs Islamist strongholds in north Mali -- Reuters
French military intervention in Mali expands -- Washington Post
France determined to 'eradicate' terrorism in Mali, official says -- CNN

Mali Islamists threaten to retaliate 'at the heart of France' -- Christian Science Monitor
As French Claim Gains In Mali, Islamists Vow To Strike Back -- NPR

A Look at What Countries Are Contributing to Mali -- AP
EU rules out sending combat mission to Mali -- Reuters
France says Algeria supportive of its Mali operation -- Reuters
African Troops Ready to Help Neighboring Mali Fighting Militants -- Voice of America
American, British troops sent to Mali war zone -- Examiner
US helping support French Mali operation -- Salon
France says US is helping support Mali operation -- AP
EU rules out military combat mission to Mali -- Reuters
Mali: No UK army boots on the ground - Cameron -- BBC
British support for Mali mission will not mean 'army boots on the ground', Cameron insists as French take on Al-Qaeda militants -- Daily Mail
NATO welcomes French action in Mali, receives no aid request -- Reuters
Nigeria: ECOWAS Lauds France's Intervention in Mali -- allAfrica.com

Mali: UNSC to Meet On Mali -- AllAfrica.com
Mali battles on as U.N. mulls next steps -- UPI
France calls UN Security Council meeting on Mali -- AP
U.N. Security Council to meet on Mali -- UPI

U.S. Preparing To Offer Limited Support For France's Military Campaign In Mali

U.S. Set to Offer Limited Support For Military Effort -- Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration moved Sunday toward approving a limited show of support for France's military campaign in Mali, readying surveillance drones and other air-intelligence assets for possible deployment within days, U.S. and European officials said.

The U.S. isn't considering sending ground troops to Mali, and the officials said any American aircraft involved in the French campaign wouldn't conduct airstrikes.

As of Sunday night, U.S. officials said there has been no final green light on U.S. military support for the French operation, but they added that the Pentagon was still assessing what American equipment could be sent.

White House National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said the administration was monitoring the situation closely.

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My Comment: The U.S. is so "behind the curve" on this crisis that I must wonder if the U.S. even has a policy and/or strategy when it comes to Mali .... especially since the old one of training the Malian Army fell apart when the Islamic rebels went on their offensive last year.

Update: The U.S. is stepping up albeit at a very limited role.

The Current Crisis In Mali Exposes A Major Failure Of U.S. Policy In The Country

French Strikes in Mali Supplant Caution of U.S. -- New York Times

BAMAKO, Mali — French fighter jets struck deep inside Islamist strongholds in northern Mali on Sunday, shoving aside months of international hesitation about storming the region after every other effort by the United States and its allies to thwart the extremists had failed.

For years, the United States tried to stem the spread of Islamic militancy in the region by conducting its most ambitious counterterrorism program ever across these vast, turbulent stretches of the Sahara.

But as insurgents swept through the desert last year, commanders of this nation’s elite army units, the fruit of years of careful American training, defected when they were needed most — taking troops, guns, trucks and their newfound skills to the enemy in the heat of battle, according to senior Malian military officials.

“It was a disaster,” said one of several senior Malian officers to confirm the defections.

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My Comment: This New York Times article is brutal in bluntly hinting that America's policy towards Mali has been a complete failure. Quoting one senior Malian officer .... “it was a disaster”. And what is worse is that after longstanding American warnings that a Western assault on the Islamist stronghold could rally jihadists around the world and prompt terrorist attacks as far away as Europe .... the French have entered the war themselves. In short .... the French have calculated that the American approach towards Mali has been a failure and that it now directly threatens French interests in the region and maybe France itself.

What's my take .... the French are right. Mali has become a disaster for U.S. policy, and with Al Qaeda now firmly entrenched in northern Mali, we are now facing a situation where Al Qaeda's safe haven can now directly target Western interests throughout western Africa and (maybe) Europe itself. As to why has the White House downplayed the role and success of Al Qaeda in Mali for the past year .... and the threat that they may possess ... your guess is as good as mine.

France Pledges A 'Short' Campaign Against Islamic Rebels In Mali

Mali: France Pledges 'Short' Campaign Against Islamists -- BBC

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has said that France's involvement in the campaign against Islamist rebels in Mali will last "a matter of weeks".

On Sunday, French warplanes bombed the town of Gao in eastern Mali, extending their raids deep into rebel territory.

France's military has been in action against Islamist militants in Mali since Friday, helping government forces recapture the central town of Konna.

France has called a meeting of the UN Security Council on Mali for Monday.

Speaking to French media, Mr Fabius rejected any parallel with the protracted Western mission in Afghanistan.

"Later on, we can come as back-up, but we have no intention of staying forever," he said.

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My Comment: Other countries (besides France) are now committing their military forces to assist the Mali government in their war with Islamic rebels, while others are waiting to receive an official request from the Mali government.

But will this campaign be a short one .... hmmmm .... I doubt it. Niger is a huge country and the Islamic rebels have consolidated their strongholds in the north of the country. For them to be stopped, ground forces will need to be involved, and considering how vast the territory .... it is not going to happen overnight or in a few short weeks as the French are hoping.

With Western Assistance African Leaders Agree To Wage War Against Islamic Militants In Northern Mali

West Africa Agrees To Deploy Troops To Mali -- BBC

West African regional leaders have agreed to deploy 3,300 soldiers to Mali to retake the north from Islamist extremists.

At a summit of Ecowas, the group's chairman said it was ready to use force to "dismantle terrorist and transnational criminal networks".

The soldiers would be provided mainly by Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso.

Islamist groups and Tuareg rebels took control of the north after Mali's president was overthrown in March.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Outtara told reporters in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, that the soldiers could be deployed as soon as the UN approved the military plan.

He said he hoped the Security Council would approve the plan by late November or early December.

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More News On West African Leaders Agreeing To Wage War Against Islamic Militants In Northern Mali

West African Leaders Approve Military Plan for Mali -- Voice of America
African Leaders Agree to Send Troops to North Mali -- Time/AP
West African leaders agree to send 3,000 troops to wrest control of north Mali -- FOX News/AP
West Africans agree to send troops to Mali -- The Australian
West African Leaders Meet to Adopt Mali Intervention Plan -- Bloomberg Businessweeek
Troops could be headed to Mali to fight Islamist extremists -- CNN
Europe to send 400 special forces to Mali -- The Telegraph
Tuareg rebel group warns on Mali intervention -- AFP
Mali's long wait to reclaim the north from Islamists -- Afua Hirsch, BBC
Mali and al-Qaeda. Can the jihadists be stopped? -- The Economist

My Comment: Some African countries are not optimistic that this plan will work.

Mali Requests Military Assistance To Defeat The Islamists In The North

Mali Formally Requests Regional Intervention Force -- Voice of America

DAKAR — Mali's interim leader Dioncounda Traore requested thatthe West African regional bloc ECOWAS provide "military assistance" to recover occupied territory in the north and fight terrorism. The reported request was made in a letter delivered to Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, who holds the rotating ECOWAS (Economic Community of West Africa States) leadership. It came just days after Islamist militants pushed further south toward the Mopti region.

France's special representative to the Sahel, Jean Felix-Paganon, announced the request Tuesday while speaking with reporters in Burkina Faso's capital.

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More News On The Conflict In Mali

Mali moves to oust Islamists with request for backup troops -- AFP
Mali requests military assistance to free north: France -- Reuters
Mali requests military help for occupied north -- Deutsche Welle
Mali asks African forces to intervene -- News24
Islamic Militant Group in Northern Mali Expanding Southward -- Voice of America
Islamists in Mali Push South With Control of Town of Douentza -- Bloomberg
Mali Islamists take over town as chaos continues -- CNN
Why Mali Matters -- Antonio Guterres, New York Times