French Troops Enter Last Islamist Stronghold In Northern Mali -- NBC/Reuters
DOUENTZA, Mali - French troops took control on Wednesday of the airport of Mali's northeast town of Kidal, the last urban stronghold held by Islamist rebels, as they moved to wrap up the first phase of a military operation to wrest northern Mali from rebel hands.
A three-week ground and air offensive by French forces aimed at initially ending a 10-month Islamist rebel occupation of major towns is expected to eventually hand over to a larger African force.
The Africans' task will be rooting out insurgents hiding in the desert and mountains near Algeria's border.
"They (the French) arrived late last night and deployed in four planes and some helicopters," Haminy Belco Maiga, president of Kidal's regional assembly of Kidal, told Reuters.
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Mali conflict: French troops retake Kidal airport without resistance -- The Guardian
French military says troops control airport in key Malian city -- CNN
Mali conflict: France says its troops now in Kidal -- BBC
French Forces Pressing Mali Campaign Enter Rebel Stronghold -- New York Times
France in 'final phase' of Mali advance -- The Australian
French Troops Enter Last Mali Rebel Stronghold -- Voice of America
French Troops Take Control of Airport in Mali’s Kidal -- Bloomberg Businessweek
French troops enter Kidal in northern Mali -- Al Jazeera
For Mali Islamist rebels, death came from the sky -- NBC/Reuters
Mali's ethnic tensions erupt as troops hunt down suspected Islamists -- The Guardian
Relief and Anxiety Meld in Malian Towns Freed of Islamists -- New York Times
France says Mali authorities must begin talks with north -- Reuters
French foreign minister says troops to leave Mali soon, after taking strategic cities -- Washington Post/AP
France rolls north in Mali, but daunting second phase looms -- Christian Science Monitor
EU Takes on Task of Rebuilding Mali Army -- New York Times/Reuters
Rebels Torch Mali Library of Historic Manuscripts -- Voice of America
French Troops Take Control of Airport in Mali’s Kidal -- Bloomberg Businessweek
French troops enter Kidal in northern Mali -- Al Jazeera
For Mali Islamist rebels, death came from the sky -- NBC/Reuters
Mali's ethnic tensions erupt as troops hunt down suspected Islamists -- The Guardian
Relief and Anxiety Meld in Malian Towns Freed of Islamists -- New York Times
France says Mali authorities must begin talks with north -- Reuters
French foreign minister says troops to leave Mali soon, after taking strategic cities -- Washington Post/AP
France rolls north in Mali, but daunting second phase looms -- Christian Science Monitor
EU Takes on Task of Rebuilding Mali Army -- New York Times/Reuters
Rebels Torch Mali Library of Historic Manuscripts -- Voice of America
Here’s what was in the torched Timbuktu library -- Washington Post
No Quick Fix For Mali: French Troops Can’t End Crisis -- William Lloyd George, Daily Beast
Africa: After Mali, Now What? -- Timawus Mathias, allAfrica.com
A long look before a leap into a war in Mali. This is action best left to Africans -- Fred Gedrich, Washington Times
Options in Mali? What options! -- Andy Morgan, Al Jazeera
French troops enter Kidal in northern Mali -- Al Jazeera
For Mali Islamist rebels, death came from the sky -- NBC/Reuters
Mali's ethnic tensions erupt as troops hunt down suspected Islamists -- The Guardian
Relief and Anxiety Meld in Malian Towns Freed of Islamists -- New York Times
France says Mali authorities must begin talks with north -- Reuters
French foreign minister says troops to leave Mali soon, after taking strategic cities -- Washington Post/AP
France rolls north in Mali, but daunting second phase looms -- Christian Science Monitor
EU Takes on Task of Rebuilding Mali Army -- New York Times/Reuters
Rebels Torch Mali Library of Historic Manuscripts -- Voice of America
Here’s what was in the torched Timbuktu library -- Washington Post
No Quick Fix For Mali: French Troops Can’t End Crisis -- William Lloyd George, Daily Beast
Africa: After Mali, Now What? -- Timawus Mathias, allAfrica.com
A long look before a leap into a war in Mali. This is action best left to Africans -- Fred Gedrich, Washington Times
Options in Mali? What options! -- Andy Morgan, Al Jazeera