Islamist militants executed twin suicide car bombings at an army base and a French-run uranium mine in Niger in retaliation for the country’s military involvement in neighboring Mali. According to press reporting, 23 people — including 18 soldiers, four bombers, and one civilian — were killed in a car bomb attack against Niger’s military garrison in Agadez. […]
While President Francois Hollande announced that French forces would intervene in January, satellite imagery suggests the decision was probably made at least three months prior in October 2012. Interventions are always interesting affairs. The reasons behind them quite frequently differ which is why various parties in the international community have a difficult time trying to create […]
Although announced earlier in April, the French defense minister recently reiterated France’s intention to keep around 1,000 troops in Mali to assist the approximate 12,600 UN peacekeepers expected to arrive around July 1st. “From now on we are in the post-war phase. The U.N. resolution adopted yesterday will allow for the arrival of a force to […]
On 06Mar13, the Italian Army 4th Air Defence Artillery Regiment of Mantova (Reggimento Artiglieria Controaerei Peschiera) and the French Air Force evaluation center CEAM (Centre d’Expériences Aériennes Militaires), jointly conducted the fire of a third MBDA Aster 30 Block 1 medium-range surface-to-air missile from the SAMP/T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée/ Terrestre). [1,2] The test was executed […]
As things in Mali have begun to heat up in the past few weeks—let alone the past few months—French President Francois Hollande’s announcement on 11 January to intervene came as no surprise. “French military forces have brought their support to the Malian forces this afternoon to fight against these terrorist elements…This operation will last as […]
