French defense minister: Extremists in Mali attack near French-held city of Gao
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France's defense minister says French forces clashed with extremists firing rocket launchers near the northern Malian city of Gao.
Gao has been held by French-led forces since late January, and the clashes highlight complications for the intervention.
Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Europe-1 radio Wednesday that "it's a real war ... when we go outside of the center of cities that have been taken, we meet residual jihadists."
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He said French aircraft are continuing airstrikes every night on suspected militant arms depots and mine-making sites.
France launched a military intervention Jan. 11 against Islamist extremists who had taken over northern Mali and started pushing toward the capital. A U.N.-authorized African force is starting to take over from French forces in cities that were seized at the outset of the intervention.