Barkhane force carried air operations against terrorists in the Sahel

This week, the Barkhane french force fought multiple air operations neutralizing several terrorists.

On April 1 and 7, the Barkhane Force conducted air operations in the Malian Gourma. On April 1, supported by a Reaper drone, a Mirage 2000D patrol neutralized terrorists and destroyed numerous motorcycles, thereby weakening AQIM’s capacity to operate in northern Gourma. On April 7, a Reaper drone raided GATs terrorists by striking near Gossi.

On April 4 and 7, in the north of Burkina Faso, a Reaper drone allowed the identification of terrorist groups and quick airstrikes, allowing the neutralization of numerous insurgents. A Mirage 2000D patrol carried the April 7 action in coordination with the Reaper.

On April 6, the Barkhane force identified and neutralized with an airstrike several members of an armed terrorist group operating along the Malo-Niger border as part of Operation ALMAHAOU.

The excellent coordination existing between the Barkhane task force and the Nigerian armed forces made it possible to obtain very significant effects during the MONCLAR operation.

On Sunday, April 5, the Barkhane troops intervened in the Niger Liptako at the demand of the Nigerian armed forces (FAN) while terrorists attacked a post of the Nigerian security forces in Banibangou, near the border.

While the Nigerian army repulsed the attack, the Barkhane task force engaged a patrol of Mirage 2000D, a patrol of reconnaissance and attack helicopters composed of a Tiger and a Gazelle against the armed group terrorists (GAT). The attack neutralized a dozen terrorists and destroyed a pickup and four motorcycles.

Coordination between the Barkhane force and the Nigerian armed forces allows rapid reaction. It is an effect of the agreement on the synchronization of plans and the sharing of information between the Barkhane force, the joint forces of the G5 Sahel, and the national armies of the G5 Sahel countries.

Insights
Led by the French army, in partnership with the G5 Sahel countries, Operation Barkhane started on August 1, 2014. French troops are involved in a strategic collaboration with the nations of the Sahel-Saharan strip (BSS): Burkina-Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad. It accounts for about 5,100 soldiers, whose purpose is to fight against terrorist armed groups (AQIM – GAT) and to support the armed forces of partner countries against the terrorist threat.