France claims the targeted assassination of an Al-Qaeda figure in Mali.
The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, announced on Monday March 7 the death of Yahia Djouadi, a senior historical executive of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), killed during an operation by French forces.
On the night of February 25 to 26, 2022, Barkhane's soldiers carried out an operation about 100 km north of Timbuktu, Mali, during which the jihadist was neutralized.
"After having located him in an area known to be a refuge for groups belonging to AQIM and JNIM, then formally identified him, he was neutralized by an intervention on the ground, supported by a Tiger reconnaissance and attack helicopter and two French drones" explains the press release from the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
"During the reconnaissance of the area that followed, ammunition was destroyed and armament was seized", can we read there.
This announcement comes in a context of strong tensions between France and the Malian transitional authorities, which led to the announcement of the departure of French troops from the country on February 17.
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