It seems that the jihadis were moving south from Konna toward Mopti when the French first launched air strikes. Fighter aircraft (based in Chad) and helicopters were used, and the jihadis shot down one French helicopter.
French special forces appear to have been involved with the Mali forces that retook Konna.
French ground troops other than special forces may have been involved, but it is unclear.
ECOWAS will accelerate troop deployments to Mali.
Britain has offered two C-17 transport aircraft for logistics.
France has requested American UAVs and other surveillance assets while we've offered logistics and intelligence support.
The EU will speed up the deployment of 200 trainers for the Mali army.
The French continued air strikes today, as well.
And there is confusion over whether French intervention means the counter-attack plan is being accelerated or whether the original plan is in effect to wait for Mali troops to be trained and equipped to strike in the autumn.
Now that the French are finally there in force, it seems foolish and expensive to just have their troops sit around while the original plan for an autumn offensive is mindlessly adhered to.
The jihadis want to wage war, and if the French just wage their plan, the jihadis will have more chances to defeat the Mali army and derail the plan that relies on Mali's army.
UPDATE: Really, can the French afford to wait until the UN plan is completed in the autumn (at the earliest), before using the forces deployed?
Could France be the first northern country in the European Union to confront potential economic demise in 2013?
Also, French regular infantry (no mention of Foreign Legion, or not) and special forces are in the capital, Bamako, to protect thousands of French nationals--not, it would seem, at the front at Mopti or points north. These total more than 400. A picture with the article is captioned as showing troops of the French 21st Marine Infantry Regiment boarding a plane in Chad to head to Mali.
The French helicopter lost was a special forces model, apparently.
The French also received logistics and intelligence from us, already.
The French say they will send their more advanced Rafale fighter to the conflict.
It certainly seems like the French intend to act sooner rather than later, but it isn't clear. Lack of clarity may just be to keep the jihadis from knowing for sure.
Also, "human rights" activists say that intervention will be worse than just letting the jihadis rule the north in their own quirky way:
Human rights groups have warned that any military intervention will exact a humanitarian price. ...
In the nine months since [Mali lost the north to the jihadi and Tuareg revolt], the extremists have imposed their austere and severe form Islam, and those who disobey their rules are beaten with whips and camel switches. Public amputations of the hands of thieves have become a regular spectacle.
No humanitarian cost to not intervening, apparently. What an odd lot, these "human rights" groups are.
In addition to the cost of deploying French troops in a defensive mission until the autumn when the UN plan calls for liberation, you can never tell what the jihadis will do with time granted to them:
They have also used their nine-month siege of the north to dig into the landscape, creating elaborate defenses, including tunnels and ramparts using the construction equipment abandoned by fleeing construction crews.
That's on top of the hand lopping and what not.
Finally, the Wikipedia entry for the operation says elements of the French Foreign Legion's 2nd Parachute Regiment are preparing to deploy and that a light armored recon platoon of the Foreign Legion is there already.
No rush at all. Take your time. I mean, there's a UN plan, for goodness sake!
