Although he has been reported killed before and DNA testing is not yet complete it is highly likely that the mastermind behind the In Amenas hostage taking was killed on Saturday (2/3/13) by Chadian forces in northern Mali. This comes days after Senior Al Qaeda Abou Zeid was also killed by Chadian forces on Thursday (28/2/13). Although alive Belmokhtar would have been a useful intelligence resource to examine the relationship between the UK and the In Amenas attack I appreciate that is not the sort of operation that is currently going on in northern Mali.
Therefore it seems an appropriate moment to mark the immense contribution that Chad has made to the conflict in Mali. After all it is their desert troops who are doing most of the fighting and dying. For example last Friday (22/2/13) they lost 15 men a single battle. 139 Islamists were also killed.
Today has also brought the news that French forces have sustained their third fatality of the conflict with the death of a 26 year old paratrooper.
17:15 on 3/3/13.
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