Mali: Washington agrees to supply the French aircraft

The Pentagon has agreed to refuel in flight French combat aircraft involved in Mali, reported the U.S. military in a press release Saturday night.

According to Pentagon spokesman George Little, the French armed forces have asked the Obama administration to put its tanker planes available to the French aircraft operating in Mali. U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has decided to approve this request, said the spokesman.

The United States and some European and African countries are supporting French forces mission in Mali. Thus, the UK has made available to France transport aircraft tactical and strategic, while the United States provides support in Paris for information using their satellites. Germany for its part, is now studying the possibility of granting aid logistics, humanitarian and medical aid to French forces.


The 16th day of the French intervention in Mali, the Malian and French soldiers seized Saturday bastion of Islamist Gao, the main town in the North of the country, marking a major turning point in the fight against Islamist militants.