The French army confirmed it had just destroyed the leader of the Al-Qaeda branch in North Africa, the force behind a series of attacks in the Sahel region in sub-Saharan Africa.
Abdelmalek Droukdel, the head of the North African branch of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, was destroyed by the French army on June 4 in northern Mali, near the Algerian border.
This is also the area where Al-Qaeda has bases to organize bombing and kidnapping of Westerners, according to French Defense Minister Florence Parly.
Droukdel is of Algerian descent. Subject to command of several armed groups belonging to the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) forces, loyal to Al-Qaeda.
Minister Parly said on 5 June that the French army also "disabled" some of Droukdel's accomplices. She described the campaign as "a huge victory". Last month, France also captured a high-ranking figure in the "centipede" group at the site of the Islamic State terrorist organization (IS).
The AQIM was formed in the 1990s. In 2007, it declared loyalty to Osama Bin Laden, then the leader of the international terrorist network Al-Qaeda.
AQIM assumes responsibility for many attacks targeting soldiers and civilians throughout the Sahel, sub-Saharan region. The group behind the terrorist attacks of hotels and restaurants in Burkina Faso killed 30 people, mostly Western tourists.
Some French defense sources said Droukdel's death could push AQIM into chaos. On the other hand, the developments held great significance for the French army. Droukdel is seen as a major regional threat with leadership, ruthlessness in competition for internal power and its ability to finance terrorist operations.
The United Nations Report describes Droukdel as an expert in explosives, having built multiple devices that killed hundreds of civilians in attacks on public locations.
Algeria sent Droukdel to death by default in 2013, accusing him of participating in the bombing of government buildings and the offices of the United Nations refugee commission. The incident left 26 people dead and 177 injured. Droukdel became Algeria's "number one enemy".
The US military said it had provided intelligence for France to track down Droukdel. The campaign took place in Talhandak, northwest of Tessalit town. Africa Command (AFRICOM) spokesperson, Chris Karns, said the US provides intelligence and "targeted assistance".
Mali's Islamic militant groups have increased their activities since 2012, following the Tuareg ethnic rebellion. When a number of key cities fell into the hands of Al-Qaeda, France initiated military intervention.
France has deployed more than 5,000 troops to the Sahel region to deal with Islamic jihadist groups. Over the past few months, nearly 500 extremists have been removed from the ring by the French army, including some commanders and oligarchs who have recruited warriors.