The French army has carried out airstrikes against rebel targets north of the Malian city of Kidal, French media reported Sunday.
The attacks targeted "logistics facilities and training centers" of armed Islamist groups, close to the border with Algeria, French Colonel Thierry Burkhard was quoted by bfm television as saying.
Thirty aircraft were reportedly used in the airstrikes. French forces captured the airport in Kidal five days ago and Malian troops are now helping secure the city, dpa reported.
France started airstrikes against rebel posts on January 11 to stop the Islamist militants from advancing toward the capital Bamako.
Militants launched an attack on Kidal on Saturday, during a visit to Mali by French President Francois Hollande.
Hollande urged African countries to support the military operation by French and Malian forces during the visit, which included stops in Sevare, Timbuktu and the capital Bamako.
Britain has pledged to airlift about 120 Ghanaian soldiers to Mali, the Ghanaian News Agency said Sunday.
The soldiers would be airlifted to Mali in mid-February, a Ghanian army spokesperson said.