French and Malian forces have taken control of Timbuktu airport and other access points to the historic Malian desert town, a French military spokesman confirmed Friday, dpa reported.
Colonel Thierry Burkhard told dpa that French special forces were parachuted into strategic points overnight to prepare the way for Malian forces to recapture the northern town from Islamist rebels.
France aimed to avoid combat in the UNESCO World Heritage Site town "to avoid the senseless destruction of heritage," he said.