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With thanks to the original poster!January 11, 2013, at the request of the Malian authorities and the UN, France launched a military operation called Serval in support of the Malian armed forces .
It aims to put an abrupt end to the progress of jihadi groups to the south of Mali and the safety of the 5,000 French nationals in the country. Hundreds of soldiers are now deployed in Mali.
The French intervention began in the afternoon of 11 January by a raid of attack helicopters to stop the progression of a column of jihadists elements en route to Konna, not far from the city of Mopti.
This first action led by French Gazelle helicopters Gazelle HOT and 20mm caliber gun helicopter regiment of the 4th Special Forces (4th HRTS) has allowed the destruction of four enemy vehicles and led to the withdrawal of the column.
On the night of January 11 to 12, four Mirage 2000D of the group Epervier conducted air strikes in the north of the country.
To perform these missions, the fighter patrols were supported by two tankers C135.
Taking advantage of scheduled rotation of the Mirage 2000D, it was decided to delay the return of the fighter jets to France and keep them in N'Djamena.
It is now currently two Mirage F1 CR, six Mirage 2000D, 3 C135, 1 C and 1 130 Transall C160 which arm the air force group "Sparrowhawk" (Epervier).
Simultaneously, first in Chad, a sub-group of nearly 200 soldiers belonging to the land force group Epervier was prepared to reach Bamako. It was projected by C-130 Hercules and Transalls from N'Djamena to the Malian capital.
The sub-group is composed with "Porpoises" (like SEALs) of the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment of Frejus (21st RIMa) and a platoon of the 1st Regiment Foreign Legion Cavalry Orange (1st REC).
In France, it is a company of the 2nd regiment of marines stationed in Auvours which has been designated to reach Bamako in the day of January 12.
The company's mission is to strengthen the system in place. (130112-validation 4:36)
On 11 January 2013, during the first phase of the operation consisting Serval, supporting Malian armed forces to stop the advance of jihadi groups to the south of Mali, a helicopter pilot was fatally injured.
The French intervention began in the afternoon of 11 January by a helicopter raid in the region Konna, near Mopti in the center of the country.
During this mission by attack helicopters Gazelle helicopter regiment of the 4th Special Forces (4th HRTS), four enemy vehicles were destroyed.
Despite accurate shots and destructive causing the decline of the column, the patrol party were taken from the ground by small arms fire.
In one of these skirmishes, a Gazelle pilot was shot. Wounded, Lieutenant rejoined, flying his helicopter, the nearest French military medical unit before succumbing to his injuries.
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