French warplanes have bombed the rebel-held town of Gao in eastern Mali, the government in Paris has confirmed. France’s military went into action against Islamist militants in Mali on Friday, helping government forces recapture the central town of Konna.
A resident in Gao told AFP news agency all Islamist bases in the town had been destroyed and the militants had fled.
Earlier, a presidential official in Paris had described the militants as “well-trained” and “well-armed”.
France said the rebels had suffered significant” casualties, as reports of the bombing in Gao began to come in. The town is around 500km (310 miles) north-east of a de facto line dividing the rebel-held north of Mali from the government-run south.
The defence ministry in Paris said four Rafale fighter jets, flying from their base in France, had attacked rebel training camps and logistics depots. Expressing surprise at the fighting strength of the Islamists in Mali, the presidential official told AFP that the rebels had acquired up-to-date and sophisticated weaponry after the Libya conflict.
Earlier, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the air attacks were continuing as part of an offensive to drive back Islamist militants who still control large swathes of northern Mali.
“There were [air strikes] last night, there are now and there will be today and tomorrow,” the minister said.
France’s decision to intervene took many by surprise. A UN-backed international force had not been expected to deploy in the west African state until the autumn.
But last week, the Islamist fighters pushed further south, seizing the strategically important town of Konna. The town has since been recaptured by Malian troops.
The unnamed Elysee Palace official quoted by AFP said on Sunday that French armed forces had been surprised by the fighting quality of the Islamist militants they were up against.
“What has really struck us is how up-to-date their equipment is, and the way they’ve been trained to use it,” the official said.
“At the start, we thought they would be just a load of guys with guns driving about in their pick-ups, but the reality is that they are well-trained, well-equipped, and well-armed.
“From Libya they have got hold of a lot of up-to-date, sophisticated equipment which is much more robust and effective than we could have imagined.”
The French contingent is set to be joined by troops from the neighbouring African states of Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo, some of which are expected to arrive in Mali within days.
Islamist groups are still holding several French hostages and have threatened reprisals against them and other French targets. This prompted the French government to step up security across the country on Saturday.
‘Child deaths’
“Our intervention is ongoing and we will continue in order to make them [Islamist fighters] retreat and allow Malian and African forces to go forward and re-establish the territorial integrity of the country,” Mr Le Drian said on Sunday.
A spokesman for the Ansar Dine Islamist group was quoted as saying that the French attacks had focused on three areas: Konna, Douentza and Lere.
Since the start of the French intervention on Friday, at least 11 Malian soldiers and a French helicopter pilot have been killed.
Human Rights Watch believes 10 civilians, including three children, died in Konna as Malian forces fought to recapture the town.
A Malian army officer said on Saturday he believed more than 100 militants had been killed.
France’s military effort in its former colony has been supported by the US and UK, which is offering assistance with transport.