Jan. 16, 2013
Mali National Guard soldiers stand guard on the military side of Bamako's airport as a commercial jet takes off during a joined visit to French and Malian troops by Mali's President Dioncounda Traore and French Ambassador to Mali Christian Rouyer. French troops pressed northward in Mali toward territory occupied by radical Islamists on Wednesday, military officials said, announcing the start of a land assault that will put soldiers in direct combat "within hours."
Jerome Delay / AP
Jan. 16, 2013
Malian soldiers stand guard as Mali's President Dioncounda Traore speaks to French troops at an air base in Bamako, Mali.
JOE PENNEY / REUTERS
Jan. 16, 2013
Mali army cadets secure a perimeter on the military side of Bamako's airport during a joined visit to French and Malian troops by Mali's President Dioncounda Traore and French Ambassador to Mali Christian Rouyer.
Jerome Delay / AP
Jan. 16, 2013
Malian national guards deploy at the 101 airbase near Bamako (Mali) during the visit of Malian President Dioncounda Traore to welcome French troops.
ERIC FEFERBERG / AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Jan. 16, 2013
Malian soldiers await a visit by Malian President Dioncounda Traore at an air base in Bamako.
JOE PENNEY / JOE PENNEY
Jan. 16, 2013
A Malian National Guard stands near Mirages jets of the French army at the 101 airbase near Bamako during a visit of Malian president Dioncounda Traore to the French troops.
ERIC FEFERBERG / AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Jan. 16, 2013
French helicopters are towed to the military side of Bamako's airport during a joined visit to French and Malian troops by Mali's President Dioncounda Traore and French Ambassador to Mali Christian Rouyer.
Jerome Delay / AP
Jan. 16, 2013
French soldiers wait for the visit of Malian president Dioncounda Traore at the military airbase in Bamako.
ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Jan. 16, 2013
French soldiers prepare their ammunitions at the military airbase in Bamako, before their deployment as part of the "Serval" operation against Islamists occupying northern Mali.
ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Jan. 16, 2013
French soldiers check a map at an undisclosed location, north of the Malian capital, Bamako.
Arnaud Roine / AP
Jan. 16, 2013
French army officers attend a briefing at an undisclosed location, north of the Malian capital, Bamako.
Arnaud Roine / AP
Jan. 16, 2013
French troops stand guard along the road leading from Markala to Niono, in Markala, approximately 40 km outside Segou, in central Mali.
Harouna Traore / AP
Jan. 13, 2012
Mohamed Ag, security guard in a mining company, poses for a picture in Gao. Mohamed was reportedly beaten by Islamists who accused him of being an informant for the Malian army.
STRINGER / AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Jan. 12, 2012
A picture taken on January 12, 2013 reportedly shows the body of a fighter of Islamist insurgent group Ansar Dine allegedly killed during an air strike by the French army on the eve at the Gao custom office.
STRINGER / AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Jan. 12, 2012
A picture taken on January 12, 2013 reportedly shows the body of a fighter of Islamist insurgent group Ansar Dine allegedly killed during an air strike by the French army on the eve at the Gao custom office.
STRINGER / AFP/GETTY IMAGES
