France says it has killed the leader of al-Qaeda in north Africa, Abdelmalek Droukdel, in an operation in Mali.
Defence Minister Florence Parly said Droukdel along with members of his inner circle had been killed in the north of the country.
She said Droukdel was in charge of all the al-Qaeda affiliates in north Africa and also commanded the Sahel-based group JNIM.
His death was a “severe blow to the terrorist groups”, she said.
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source: bbc.com