France Says 'Destroyed' al-Qaida Arms Convoy in Niger
France said Friday its forces had "destroyed" an al-Qaida convoy in Niger carrying a large amount of weapons from Libya to Mali.
The convoy, belonging to al-Qaida's north African branch, was "intercepted and destroyed (Thursday) night in northern Niger... carrying weapons from Libya to Mali," said a statement from the French presidency.
"The operation allowed us to seize a large quantity of weapons and to neutralize the transporters, some of whom were captured."
The statement did not detail casualties.
French troops have remained in the Sahel since an intervention in Mali in January 2013 to chase out hardline Islamists, including Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which had seized control of the country's northern desert cities.
The operation has been replaced by a wider counter-terrorism operation, codenamed Barkhane, in five countries along the southern rim of the Sahara.
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said around 3,000 French soldiers will be part of the operation, 1,000 of whom will stay in northern Mali.
Drones, helicopters, fighter jets, armored vehicles and transport planes are also taking part in Operation Barkhane -- the name of a crescent-shaped sand dune in the desert -- which will have its headquarters in the Chadian capital N'Djamena.
Source: Agence France Presse
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