Operation Serval

January 11, 2013 – July 15, 2014 · Mali

Result Malian/French victory

French forces intervened in Mali to stop an advance by Islamist groups toward the south. They retook the northern cities, and the operation was followed by the wider Operation Barkhane.

On the map Contemporaries

Mali

Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa

Other

France

Mali

Chad

Nigeria

Burkina Faso

Senegal

Togo

Mouvement national de libération de l'Azawad

Boko Haram

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

François Hollande belligerent leader

Mahamat Déby military commander

Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta belligerent leader

Dioncounda Traoré belligerent leader

Édouard Guillaud military commander

Iyad Ag Ghaly military commander

Mokhtar Belmokhtar military commander

Strength and losses

Wounded: 60
Aircraft lost: 1

France Killed 9

Mali Killed 82

Chad Killed 38

Nigeria Killed 2

Burkina Faso Killed 1

Togo Killed 1

Senegal Killed 2

Captured: 109–300
Vehicles lost: c. 50

Units

French Air and Space Force Air Parachute Commando No. 10 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

Royal Air Force