French Forces Retake Gao and Timbuktu — Northern Liberation Accelerates

Gao is retaken January 25–26 via a special forces night airborne landing. Timbuktu falls January 27 with no resistance — jihadists fled devastating airstrikes. Timbuktu residents welcome French troops with celebrations after nine months of harsh Sharia enforcement. The rapid liberation of these two cities marks the decisive conventional phase of Operation Serval.