Paris (AFP) - Violent fighting between French-led forces and an "armed terrorist group" in restive northern Mali erupted overnight, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Wednesday.
"Last night, as part of a planned operation to fight against jihadist movements in northern Mali, a violent clash pitted the Barkhane force against a big armed terrorist group in the Tigharghar mountain range. As I speak the fighting.... has just ended," he told parliament.