The French army killed on Saturday in Mali the jihadist leader Nasser Al Tergui, commander of the katiba du Gourma of the GSIM (Support Group for Islam and Muslims) close to Al-Qaeda, the state announced on Thursday. major.
Nasser Al Tergui was the number two of the Gourma-Serma katiba of GSIM and head of the Gourma katiba, active along the Malo-Burkinabe border, details the staff in a statement.
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According to the French armies, “
Nasser Al Tergui exercised important operational responsibilities within the katiba of Gourma-Serma.
He was particularly specialized in the laying of improvised explosive devices and mines
”.
He joined the ranks of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in 2012, during the capture of Timbuktu by jihadist groups.
"
The neutralization of the head of the katiba of Gourma will make it possible to reduce the nuisance capacities of an armed terrorist group known to commit attacks against local forces as well as numerous abuses against the local population
", welcomes the state- major.
Neutralization
“
Friday, October 15, a vehicle carrying five individuals on board was spotted by a drone about a hundred kilometers north-west of Gossi.
The cross-checking of various information made it possible to confirm the presence on board of this vehicle of Nasser Al Tergui
”, accompanied by four other members of the GSIM, details the press release.
On October 16, the vehicle headed south.
"
The soldiers of the Barkhane force decided to launch an operation to intercept the vehicle and the five individuals
" but "
the vehicle refusing to stop, two airstrikes were launched to stop it.
The vehicle is destroyed and the five occupants are neutralized
”.
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A commando group was helicoptered to the area of the strike to recognize it and recover material of interest, during operation.
This new neutralization of a jihadist leader by the French comes as the Malian authorities have officially entrusted the Ministry of Religious Affairs with the file of dialogue with certain jihadist groups, at a delicate moment in relations with Paris.
France, Mali's main ally, has always refused this dialogue.
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