The France govt on Monday claimed that over 50 militants linked to the terror group Al-Qaeda were killed in central Mali in an airstrike launched by a French anti-jihadist force last week. French Defense Minister Florence Parly tweeted, "I would like to reveal an operation of great importance which was carried out on October 30 in Mali by the Barkhane force, which was able to neutralize more than 50 jihadists and confiscated arms and material."