French-led Mali troops retake northern Islamist town:
"At present, Malian and French soldiers are in Hombori. There are no longer any Islamists on the ground," a local teacher said. A Malian security source said the forces were proceeding towards Gao.
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Mali: French-led soldiers in control of Gao airport:
French-led troops in Mali have taken control of the airport in the northern town and Islamist stronghold of Gao, the French defence ministry has said.
Both Gao's airport and the strategic Wabary bridge have been secured, though fighting continues in the town. Ref. Source 5
In Mali town, rebels tie down French:
"It's very much going to be an insurgency on the ground like we've seen in Iraq and like we've seen in Afghanistan," Canada's Foreign Minister John Baird said on Tuesday, explaining why Canada was not likely to send troops to support the French. Ref. Source 1
French defense minister: Tough fighting under way in mountains of northern Mali:
France's defense minister says French troops are involved in "Very violent fighting" in the mountains of northern Mali, and that it's too early to talk about a quick pullout from the West African country despite the growing cost of the intervention. Ref. Source 7
France is one of our strongest allies in this war against Radical Islamic Extremism. I wish we would rename this war. We cannot war against terror. Terror is a tactic. Terror is not an organization or a series of organizations. On the other hand, Radical Islamic Extremism is something we can fight. It can easily be linked to a handful of organizations and states. We can then target those and destroy them… given the green light to actually fight this war rather than pussyfoot around it.