Mali conflict: ‘Many die’ in Ifoghas mountain battle
23 February BBC
Thirteen Chadian and 65 Islamist rebel fighters have been killed in
fighting in northern Mali, Chad's military says.It says five of its
soldiers were wounded in the clashes in the mountainous Ifoghas region.
France intervened last month to help the Malian army oust Islamist
militants who seized the vast northern region of Mali in 2012.Thousands
of soldiers from African countries have also been deployed in Mali since
then.
The latest clashes took place in the Ifoghas massif a desert mountain
region in the Kidal region near the border with Algeria. The rebels are
believed to have sought refuge there after being forced from the main
population centres.Five rebel vehicles were also destroyed during the
fierce battle on Friday, the Chadian military said in a
statement.Fighting between Islamist insurgents and Malian troops backed
by French soldiers also continued in the central city of Gao.On
Thursday, the coalition said it had recaptured the city hall, which had
been seized by militants a day earlier.
In a separate development, US military said it had deployed
surveillance drones in Niger to gather information on Islamist militants
across the border in Mali and share intelligence with French troops.The
US said a 100-strong contingent was operating the drones out of a base
in Niger.France has said it wants to start withdrawing its 4,000
soldiers from its former colony next month and would like the
African-led mission to become a UN peacekeeping operation.
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