President Hollande said France’s goals in Mali were: “stop[ping] the terrorist aggression… making Bamako safe… and enabling Mali to recover its territorial integrity.” The French force in Mali is now about 800 troops and will be built up to 2,500. French troops will be used in the second phase of the operation, expelling Islamists from the main towns. Hollande said some rebels could be taken prisoner but the aim was to “destroy” them.
