France Launches Airstrikes in Chad

PARIS (AP) -- France's Defense Ministry says French armed forces have intervened in northern Chad and launched airstrikes at an armed group coming in from Libya.

The operation took place Sunday and was organized in cooperation with the Chadian army.

A patrol of Mirage 2000 airplanes hit a column of 40 pickups coming from Libya that penetrated "deep into Chadian territory," the ministry said, adding that the "intervention, in response to a request from Chadian authorities, helped hinder this hostile progression and disperse the column."

French President Emmanuel Macron visited Chad in December and reaffirmed French backing for African anti-extremist forces amid growing international concern about the chaos in Libya. Macron also met with French soldiers deployed in the Sahel region with Operation Barkhane, France's largest overseas military mission.

(KA)