US begins transporting French troops and equipment to Mali; flights could last 2 weeks
DJENNE, Mali - Pentagon officials say the U.S. airlift of French forces to Bamako could continue for another two weeks.
It's expected to take about 30 C-17 flights to get everything there.
The U.S. Air Force is keeping between eight and 10 people at the airport to help with the incoming and outgoing flights.
These are the U.S. Air Force personnel who will stay only until the airlift is completed.
The U.S. Air Force already has flown five C-17 flights into Bamako, delivering more than 80 French troops and 124 tons of equipment.
The U.S. is not providing direct aid to the Malian military because the democratically elected government was overthrown last March in a coup.
The French-led operation to oust Islamic extremists from northern Mali began Jan. 11.
