France's army said Monday that its anti-jihadist force in Mali had killed Yahia Djouadi, a "senior leader" of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) responsible for finance and logistics.
Djouadi, an Algerian also known as Abu Ammar al-Jazairi, was killed overnight from February 25 to 26 around 100 miles (160 kilometres) north of Timbuktu in central Mali, the army said in a statement.
“After locating the jihadist in a zone known as a refuge for groups belonging to AQIM and JNIM, and formally identifying him, he was neutralised in a ground intervention, assisted by a reconnaissance and attack helicopter and two French drones,” it said. .
His death "once again weakens al Qaeda's governance" in Mali, the statement said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
