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French-led forces seized control of an airport and a key bridge in Mali’s northern city of Gao on Saturday, making significant inroads into the Islamist stronghold.
French forces have taken control of the airport and a key bridge in the radical Islamist stronghold of Gao, the French defense minister said Saturday, marking a significant inroad into the heart of territory held by the al-Qaeda-linked extremists.
Clashes were ongoing around Idlib central prison on Saturday, hours after Syrian activists said that rebels overran part of the prison and freed at least one hundred prisoners.
The fighting in northwestern Syria began after opposition fighters attacked three checkpoints on the way to the prison. At least ten rebel fighters were reported killed in the clashes, which began on Friday afternoon.
French and malian soldiers have retaken Hombori during the night between thursday and friday, on the road to Gao, one for major cities in north Mali, occupied by jihadist rebels.
Twelve Islamist rebels have been killed in a shootout with Russian forces in Chechnya. Among the dead were two of the country’s most wanted militants.
Brothers Khusezn and Muslim Gakayev were accused of organising several high-profile attacks including one targeting the Chechen parliament in 2010.
Six injured militiamen who were captured by Somaliland army this week in the district of Hudun in sool region have been brought to Burco general hospital for specialized treatment.
The Khaatumo affiliated militiamen were held at the Burco maximum prison after been captured during a fierce firefight last Tuesday in Hudun district after a failed ambush they had launched on a Somaliland army base,said Gen Shaqalle.
One of the Islamist groups fighting in northern Mali has split and wants dialogue, a statement from the faction seen by the AFP news agency says.
Islamic Movement for Azawad said it was splitting from Ansar Dine, and “rejects all forms of extremism and terrorism”.
Three armed Taliban were killed in clash by Afghan security forces.
Interior ministry press office said to BNA, the Afghan security forces in the last 24 hours conducted 8 cleaning up operations in the outskirts of Daikundi, Badakhshan, Jouzjan, Kandahar, Zabul, Farah and Helmand provinces, in which three armed Taliban were killed, 13 others including two commanders of them arrested.