Battle of Diabaly

Battle of Diabaly
Part of Northern Mali conflict

Mirage 2000D 133-JC operation Serval
Date14–21 January 2013
(1 week)
Location
Diabaly, Mali
Status

Malian/French military victory;[1] Islamist propaganda victory[2][3]

  • Islamists capture Diabaly and hold it for a week
  • Malian and French army retake Diabaly
Belligerents

Islamists groups:

Ansar Dine
MOJWA
AQIM
Boko Haram		  Mali
 France
Commanders and leaders
Abou Zeïd
Ousmane Haïdara Haroune Ag Saïd		 Mali Seydou Sogoba
Strength
250–300 fighters, 60 vehicles[4] Mali 500–700 soldiers
France 100 soldiers
6 Mirage 2000D
4+ Rafale
10 Gazelle helicopters
Casualties and losses
47 killed[4] Mali ~12 killed[5]
4+ civilians killed[6][7]

The Battle of Diabaly was fought between government forces of Mali, against groups of Islamists militants such as the AQIM and Ansar Dine. The Islamists held control of Diabaly for no longer than a week until Malian forces with the help French air strikes recaptured the town.[8]

  1. ^ "Mali conflict: French troops 'enter Diabaly'". BBC News. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Poorly Armed Mali Army Can't Stand Up to Rebels". News From Antiwar.com. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Rebel victory in Diabaly could prolong French offensive in Mali". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  4. ^ a b "In Mali, Diabaly residents helped repel Islamists militants". 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference recognise was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "French and Malian forces take Diabaly but there are fears Islamists will return". The Independent. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference boosts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "France begins Mali military intervention". Al Jazeera. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.