London, Nov. 13, 2020 (AltAfrica)-French forces have killed Bah Moussa, a military leader of al-Qaida’s North Africa wing in Mali, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Friday.

The French military announced its latest operation on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in Paris, targeting the Bataclan concert hall, cafes and the national stadium.

“This is a major success in the fight against terrorism that France is leading with its partners in the Sahel,” said Parly.

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“A historic figure of the jihadist movement in the Sahel, Bah ag Moussa is considered responsible for several attacks against Malian and international forces,” she added in a statement

Moussa, a military leader of the Rally for the Victory of Islam and Muslims, an al-Qaida wing operating in the Sahel region, was killed on Tuesday during an operation involving significant intelligence resources, ground troops and helicopters, according to the defence ministry.

Surveillance drones helped French forces in Mali identify Moussa’s truck in the Menaka region of eastern Mali, which was then targeted by the helicopters and 15 French commandos sent to the scene, Barbry said. All five people in the truck were killed after they ignored warning shots and fired on the French forces, he said.

France has led a special military operation to curb the insurgency in the Sahel region since 2014. (Xinhua/NAN)