Islamist rebels on Monday seized Diabali, Mali, AFP reported. The town is 250 miles north of the capital of Bamako.
“They have taken Diabali, which is a small town, after heavy fighting and resistance from the Malian army, which was insufficiently equipped at that exact point,” French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said, according to AFP.
France’s military began intervening in Mali Friday and continued through the weekend, the New York Times reported, launching airstrikes on rebel strongholds.