French Foreign Minister Drian visited the Ifhogas mountains, where French, Chadian, and Malian troops have been fighting Islamists, and stated that 70 per cent of the task of ridding the area of jihadists has been accomplished. He said the quantity and nature of weaponry seized showed that the jihadists planned to use Mali as a base for attacks on neighboring countries and Europe. France has begun withdrawing its troops, to the dismay of Malian leaders. Four civilians were killed in Timbuktu.
