Several months before his death in May 2011, Osama bin Laden ordered al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb to stand down with respect to hostage negotiations. The terror master said he would negotiate with France concerning AQIM’s hostages. Mokhtar Belmokhtar’s spokesman recently confirmed that he still answers to al Qaeda central.
Sahara hostage siege turns Mali war global
The French Intervention in Mali Could Take Longer than First Thought
French anti-terror judge says ‘no choice’ but war in Mali /a>
“With the rescue attempt, France has voluntarily signed Allex’s death warrant,” the terror group said in an official statement. Shabaab later announced he was executed. The French intelligence agent has been held by Shabaab since July 2009.
How the French got to airstrikes in Mali: A briefing from Bamako
Turkey and the PKK: The Kurdish women who take up arms
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 defense minister said the military intervention in Mali was “developing favorably.” The foreign minister said the intervention would last a “matter of weeks” and that the French had no intention of staying in Mali. France has deployed about 550 troops to Bamako, the capital, and Mopti. The al Qaeda-linked MUJAO threatened retaliation against French […]
Analysis: French early strike shakes up Mali intervention plan
Britain ‘could help train Malian army’, says minister
Analysis: Mali – one African war France could not avoid
Security was heightened in France after the French military began helping to repel the Islamist advance in Mali. The Islamist militants warned that France would pay a price for its intervention in Mali. President Hollande said France would not give in to “terrorist blackmail.” The Foreign Ministry stepped up security in Mauritania, Niger, and the […]
French aircraft and attack helicopters beat back a jihadist advance on the town of Mopti.
French commandos from the General Directorate for External Security attempted to rescue Denis Allex, one of their operatives captured in 2009. The French said they believe Allex was killed in the raid; Shabaab denied the claim.
West Scrambles to Counter Islamist Offensive
France launches air strike on al-Qaeda in Mali
French forces launched an airstrike in central Mali to assist the Malian army repel the advance of al Qaeda-linked fighters. European soldiers landed by transport airplane in Sevare, near the city of Mopti. French citizens have been advised to leave Mali.
Three Kurdish women, including a cofounder of the PKK, were killed in Paris. Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a former head of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions, will be freed from prison provided he is expelled from France. Abdallah received a life sentence in 1984 for the Paris murders of a US military attaché and an Israeli […]
UN wants to use drones for peacekeeping missions
Mali crisis paving way for militant attacks on France: judge
The top antiterrorism judge warned that French Muslims from Africa have “found their jihad” in Mali, and said authorities are currently investigating four Malian terrorist cells, most involving dual nationals. He also said that the Internet has enabled female jihadists to take on a full role.
Sahel security global threat, 8-14,000 Jihadists now in Mali, region, to double in year: Study
AP IMPACT: Al-Qaida carves out own country in Mali
French paper to publish comic book life of Mohammed
Hard feelings on both sides as US winds down its Afghan role
Al-Qaeda group: France endangers hostages by intervening in Mali
Afghanistan deny Taliban demands regarding peace process
Political Parties Hopeful After Paris; Taliban Demand Constitutional Change
Maghreb countries boost border security