Bombardment of Ametettai

During the initial days of Operation Serval, French forces launched raids against Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and other jihadist groups in their headquarters in the Ametettai mountains in rural Kidal Region. Chadian forces fought a major battle in the Ametettai mountains during the Battle of Ifoghas in February and March 2013. In January 2014, American-made Reaper drones bought by France were used in Mali for the first time.^[1]

On March 4, French observation drones spotted a group of jihadists in the Ametettai valley. According to the French minister of defense Jean-Yves Le Drian, around ten militants had rocket launchers and an arms cache.^[1] French fighter jets then came back to Ametettai in the late afternoon of March 4, and launched airstrikes five hours later.^[2] The jihadists shot back with a single rocket attack, but it missed.^[2]

A Malian army official stated eleven jihadists were killed in the bombing. A few others were injured, and were able to escape.^[3][2] French intelligence stated Omar Ould Hamaha, a prominent jihadist commander, and Abdelwaheb al-Harrachi were killed in the attack.^[4][5] These statements were disputed by AQIM spokesperson Abou Assem al-Moujahir, who claimed Hamaha was still alive and that the French statements were unfounded.^[6]