French Begin Ground Assault In Mali

The French military released video of its troop and aircraft deployments in Mali on Wednesday (January 16) as the country launched its first ground assault to push back Islamist rebels who have seized control of the north of the country.

Footage shows French ground troops assembling kit in nearby Chad on Tuesday and preparing to be deployed in operation "Serval" as well as French jets in action.

Battle-hardened al Qaeda-linked fighters have resisted six days of air strikes in Mali as France tries to rally international support to tackle the insurgents who, it says pose a threat to security in the region and the West.

-Reuters