Few days ago,a large column of terrorist was located thanks to ISR means in the region of Douentza,in the Malian Gourma. This concentration of means foreshadowed a complex attack against the Malian forces like we've seen recently (Boulikessi et In'Delimane outposts,more than 100 Malian soldiers killed). An immediate action was taken by the Barkhane force to avoid another such incident,Mirage 2000Ds,Tigre and Gazelle helicopters were sent to neutralize the column,several vehicles were destroyed resulting in the death of dozens of terrorists.
Operation Barkhane was launched in 2014 after Operation Serval in 2013 which goal was to repel the jihadists advance towards the Malian capital,Bamako,and to regain the territories and towns of Northern Mali who fell to the terrorists. Operation Barkhane was intended to act as a follow up of Serval and has expended over the vast Sahel region with the aim of helping the local countries to maintain control of their (vast) territories while also preventing the region to become a safe-haven for islamist terrorist groups.
France's main areas of operations and presence are in Mali,Niger and Tchad. Special forces are based in Burkina Faso. France's means in the Sahel are as follow ;
4500 troops
3 UAVs (soon to be armed)
7 aircrafts
19 helicopters
6 to 10 transport aircrafts and tanker
260 armored transport vehicles
360 logistic vehicles
210 light armored vehicles
Clearly the means are ridiculous compared to the area of Operation that's the size of Europe. However,this small French presence is the only reason a caliphate wasn't yet established in the region,given the high deficiencies of the local states to maintain control over those large territories and the setbacks suffered by their local armies. (Especially in Mali). This can also be explained by the lack of training,professionalism and also equipments. They are also facing a very well organized,mobile and determined enemy.
Since France's intervention in Mali and the Sahel since 2013,thousands of terrorists were killed and hundreds were captured. Sadly,France lost 44 soldiers (from all causes) in the region since 2013. (If you exclude casualties from accidents,the main cause of death in the region was IEDs and mines and not due to direct fights with terrorists)
