France Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

NIONO, Mali (Reuters) - A column of French and Malian armored personnel carriers and supply trucks moved north into the central Malian town of Diabaly early on Monday after the Islamist rebels who were controlling it melted away, security sources said.

Diabaly, 350 km (220 miles) north of the capital Bamako, had harbored the main cluster of rebels south of the front-line towns of Mopti and Sevare until French airstrikes forced them to flee or attempt to blend in with locals, residents said.

"French and Malian forces have advanced to Diabaly and they will continue their mission of securing the town," the deputy commander of Malian forces in nearby Niono, who gave his name only as Captain Samasa, told Reuters. Another security source confirmed the information on condition of anonymity.

(Reporting by Bate Felix and Adama Diarra; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Click to expand...

bd popeye said:

NIONO, Mali (Reuters) - A column of French and Malian armored personnel carriers and supply trucks moved north into the central Malian town of Diabaly early on Monday after the Islamist rebels who were controlling it melted away, security sources said.

Diabaly, 350 km (220 miles) north of the capital Bamako, had harbored the main cluster of rebels south of the front-line towns of Mopti and Sevare until French airstrikes forced them to flee or attempt to blend in with locals, residents said.

"French and Malian forces have advanced to Diabaly and they will continue their mission of securing the town," the deputy commander of Malian forces in nearby Niono, who gave his name only as Captain Samasa, told Reuters. Another security source confirmed the information on condition of anonymity.

(Reporting by Bate Felix and Adama Diarra; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Click to expand...

navyreco said:

French Navy "Dixmude" LHD to transport French Army's VBCI IFV for deployment in Mali

French Navy "Dixmude" LHD to transport French Army's VBCI IFV for deployment in Mali

Click to expand...

As is their normal MO, the "rebels," and Islamic Extremists simply blend in with the locals when the heavy stuff comes out. They will hardly ever go toe to toe with such forces.

When they tried early on against US supported forces (ie. the Northern Alliance) in Afghanistan, they were slaughtered by the thousands by US aircraft and smart weapons.

Now, they will let the French get in there and all set up, running their partols, and then the French will find that those APCs are not armored enough for the IEDs that will be used against them.

The US has had to build a whole new range of vehicles, from transport, to assault, to IED "finders" with very special armored "V" shape designs to safe the lives of the personnel in those vehicles and we have built them now by the thousands.

France will either have to be ready to do the same, or only engage the militants when they can catch them out in the open and not send out these types of patrols.

IMHO, if there is a population center that is supporting the likes of Al Quida and allowing them to hide amongst them...then, as the US did in World War II, if you want military victory that is clear cut, you have to decimate those populations as well until they absolutely want no more and sue for unconditional surrender and give up the insurgents at every turn.

Since World War II the US and Western armies have not really fought this way and the results have been numerous stale mates and quagmires where US and western forces are bled dry until the populations in the west demand that the troops come home.

One exception was the 1st Gulf War where Saddam's armies actually tried to stand and fight and hold their defensive lines. They were slaughtered too.

So IMHO, go in and hit them hard and then leave with the message that you will come back and do it again if they ever try and take up shop, are be prepared to go all out in the war effort and destroy not only the military capabilities of the insurgents, but also all of their support infrastructure...or don't go in.

Just my opinion.

Latest rumor:
France is about to deploy 4 Leclerc MBT to Mali

French army could send 4 main battle tanks Leclerc to support military operations in Mali.

French Air Force continue air strikes against Islamist ground targets near Diabaly and Konna. According to information from the newspaper website LesEchos.fr, France could deploy four Leclerc main battle tanks to strengthen military operations in Mali.

Mali's army chief Tuesday, January 22, 2013, said his French-backed forces could reclaim the northern towns of Gao and fabled Timbuktu from Islamists in a month, as more offers of aid poured in for the offensive.

French land forces continue to strengthen their positions between the cities of Diabaly and Konna. A company of the 3e RIMa (3e Marine Infantry Regiment of French Army) was sent from France and deployed on the airport to protect the area in coordination with French air commandos.

Click to expand...

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

First Underway Replenishment for French Navy's newest Frigate: FREMM Aquitaine

On January 22, 2013 French Navy Frigate Aquitaine, first ship in the new class of FREMM Frigates conducted her first Underway Replenishment (UNREP)/Replenishment at Sea (RAS) while participating in a naval exercise involving two more Frigates and a Durance class AOR.

During the replenishment at sea with Somme AOR, actual transfer of fuel occurred. This is a new step towards the full qualification of the newest and most advanced Frigate in the French Navy fleet.

Click to expand...

more @

French Navy Dixmude LHD sails off with a full load of reinforcement for Serval operation in Mali

Monday, January 21, 2013, French Navy Dixumde LHD (Mistral class) sailed off on alert from Toulon naval base. With a record (for the class) load of French Army troops, vehicles and equipment belonging to a battalion task force (JTF-battle group) the amphibious vessel contributes to the strengthening of the French military deployed in Operation Serval.

Click to expand...

Many pics @

2e REP (Foreign Legion) Jumping over Timbuktu, Mali (+ "assault landing" with C130)

French paratroopers of 2e REP Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment were parachuted on Timbuktu.

French army spokesman Colonel Thierry Burkhard has announced, on Monday morning, January 28, 2013, French soldiers of the 2e REP (2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment) were parachuted into strategic points overnight to prepare the way for Malian forces to recapture Timbuktu from Islamist rebels. Two C-130 and three C-160 Transall military transport aircraft drop French paratroops north of the city of Timbuktu to lock access.

Click to expand...

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

navyreco said:

French paratroopers of 2e REP Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment were parachuted on Timbuktu.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

Thanks for all your update on the Mali incident. Do you know if the French are sending mostly the regular army units or the French Foreign Legion units into Mali?