Islam Times - French pilot killed in Mali military operation: France def. min.

Islam Times - France’s Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says a French Air Force pilot has been killed in a military operation in Mali.

Drian issued a statement on Saturday saying that “Lieutenant Damien Boiteux” was killed in a helicopter raid which was carried out a day earlier near the central town of Konna.

This comes two days after France took military action in Mali to halt advances by the rebels who control the north of the West African country.

On Friday, the Malian army said it drove back militants from the town of Konna, after France intervened with airstrikes to halt advances by fighters.

Malian officials say Nigeria and Senegal have also sent ground forces to support government forces in the conflict.

Turmoil erupted in Mali after President Amadou Toumani Toure was toppled in a military coup on March 22, 2012.

The coup leaders said they mounted the coup in response to the government's failure to contain the Tuareg rebellion in the north of the country, which had been going on for two months.