Al Qarra - Islamists rebels are being driven out of their strongholds Gao and Timbuktu following France’s intervention. The insurgents had been occupying both towns since April 2012. The withdrawal is only a “tactical retreat” according to a spokesman for Ansar Dine militant group.<br /><br />French airstrikes chased out rebels in Gao but bombings didn’t target Timbuktu. In any case, the mujahideens fled to the west of Mali. But in a counter-attack on Monday, the fighters took the town of Diabaly, 400k north of Bamako.<br /><br />There is no official death toll but at least 11 Malian soldiers were killed and 60 injured. A French pilot died on the second day of the operation near the central town of Mopti.
