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French Forces Kill al-Qaida-Linked Commander in Mali

Associated Press

   PARIS - French ground forces and military helicopters killed a jihadi
   commander linked with al-Qaida in Mali along with four others, the
   French military said Friday.

   The operation Tuesday targeted Bah ag Moussa, military chief for the
   RVIM Islamic extremist group, who had been on a U.N. sanctions list and
   was believed responsible for multiple attacks on Malian and
   international forces in the country, French military spokesman
   ColonelFrederic Barbry told reporters Friday.

   Surveillance drones helped French forces in Mali identify Moussa's
   truck in the Menaka region of eastern Mali, which was then targeted by
   the helicopters and 15 French commandos sent to the scene, Barbry said.
   All five people in the truck were killed after they ignored warning
   shots and fired on the French forces, he said.

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