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Opération “Barkhane”

Joseph Cosgrove

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Posted at 16:10 13 Nov16:10 13 Nov
French troops 'kill top al-Qaeda operative in Mali'

French forces have killed Bah ag Moussa, a senior official of al-Qaeda’s North Africa wing, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly has said.
He was one of the main assistants of Iyad Ag Ghaly - the leader of one of Mali's Islamist groups - Ms Parly said in a statement.
"I congratulate our soldiers for this success which deprives Iyad Ag Ghaly of one of his main assistants. Their commitment, their courage and their selflessness make us strong and proud," she said.
 

Le petit caporal

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Attacks by jihadists were carried out on three French bases in Mali, at Gao, Kidal and Menaka. Reports say by indirect 🔥. By that I'm presuming snipers or mortars? No further info.
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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Attacks by jihadists were carried out on three French bases in Mali, at Gao, Kidal and Menaka. Reports say by indirect 🔥. By that I'm presuming snipers or mortars? No further info.
Here is ▶ the link
What I can't understand is that the French don't have people watching to avoid that kind of thing. Without giving away any details, when I was working at the US general consulate in Marseille we had people outside - independent of the consulate. They would not be watching the consulate, but watching the advantages points that people who would be watching the consulate could use.
Let me explain : let's say that from a café on the corner of a street, would be an ideal place to watch the comings and goings of the consulate. You're not going to sit in the café, but position yourself where you can watch the comings and goings of the café. to point where they can even take over a small business.
 

Le petit caporal

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No, too light and they are just for reconnaissance (company level, patrol's)
Now that would be one interesting course to do
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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No, too light and they are just for reconnaissance (company level, patrol's)
Now that would be one interesting course to do
It's certainly one for 'The Generation Gameboy' :ROFLMAO:
It's just after 6 of the clock on a Saturday morning, and I'm cracking 'em already.
 

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Barkhane: imminent deployment of the mini-drone reconnaissance system​


The STAT (technical section of the army) revealed that the SMDR (system of mini-drones for reconnaissance) will be deployed in the coming days in the Sahelian theater.

Barkhane.​

The technical section of the Army received the AJD (association of professional defense journalists) on Wednesday, December 9 on the Satory plateau. On this occasion, General Vidaud, commander of the STAT, announced that the SMDR, a mini-drone reconnaissance system, will be deployed in operation in the coming days, before the end of December. The SMDR and the brand team that will accompany it will thus be projected on the theater of Operation Barkhane. The projection time for STAT teams is estimated at one month, but could change depending on the needs on site.


Operational employment.​

The deployment of the SMDR by a STAT team will make it possible to "verify that the equipment can be used in an operational manner", explains General Vidaud. The ambition is therefore to be able to transfer equipment to the forces while supporting them in this process, through support from STAT teams. This will therefore represent the last step in the operationalization of the SMDR before its complete transfer to the Army. Evaluated by the STAT intelligence group, the SMDR is eagerly awaited by the forces. The mini-drone reconnaissance systems "will be implemented by the mini-drone sections of the acquisition and surveillance batteries of the artillery regiments and by the 61st artillery regiment", detailed last June the DGA.
While the program was delayed since the first systems were expected for 2019, the DGA announced on June 16, during the delivery to the Army of the first three systems (a system corresponding to three drones and a ground station ), operational deployment before the end of 2020. A commitment barely met.


Modernization of intelligence resources.​

The SMDR will thus replace the DRAC (contact reconnaissance drone), which entered service in 2008. This renewal of resources will provide the Army with more efficient means. While the DRAC had one hour of autonomy for 10 km of range, the SMDR can carry out missions of three hours, for 30 km of range. In total, 35 systems have been ordered by the Ministry of the Armed Forces. “Deploying drones such as the Patroller or the SMDR on Barkhane is saving lives. Surveillance resources are lacking in BSS ”, declared in our columns Colonel Marc Bonnet, corps commander of the 61st RA, last June.
 

Le petit caporal

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Aye, that's the one but no way I was going to translate it ...

Am struggling to find the use for 120 sml in such a wide OPS
Must be Recon
 

Le petit caporal

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There will be a summit in February (somewhere) to decide whether or not to reduce the headcount. Has to happen sooner or later, this is going nowhere and the budget is high and Covid is costing fortunes. Plus the presidential election in 2022. Partial withdrawal and over a certain period is my prono.
 
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Crawdad

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Source: Ouest - France
2 soldats blessés au Sahel lors d'une dispute sous influence d'alcool

The article:


For the non-francophones--- What had happened was, 3 French soldiers from the same unit got into a drunken altercation, which led to one of them pulling his sidearm and shooting the other two. One was seriously injured, one was lightly wounded, both have been evac'd to a hospital in France. The incident, which occured on Christmas Eve in Gao, Mali, is under further investigation.
Drunken Cowboy stuff like this, is the precise reason why we Yanks aren't allowed to drink while deployed.
 

Le petit caporal

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You forget it's Christmas, have you no heart?
Officer's? Sous officer's?
Sous officer's and Officer's?
The report mentions an inquiry is ongoing by the "Prévôté" (military gendarmerie). Once concluded, the responsable will be sent back to France.
 
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