On 19 February 2013, heavy fighting occurred as French Special Forces pushed deeper into the Azawad hinterland in pursuit of Islamist insurgents.

[3] Early in the afternoon on 20 February dozen Islamists were killed by French ground troops backed by Tiger helicopters.

By supporting the French special forces, the MNLA also allegedly took seven prisoners and among the survivors, including the head of AQIM, Seden Ag Hita.

According to Ag Acherif Bilal, head of the MNLA, "There are many areas where AQIM are to the west of Timbuktu, but Tigharghar is their anchor.

On 26 February, the French Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian said that fighting had continued and that there were "many, many dead jihadists."

According to a notable informant at the Aguel'hoc passage of Kidal: "There are French and Chadian troops on the ground, but also many strikes by Tiger Helicopters."

On 1 March 2013, It was announced that the second-in-command for Al Qaeda in North Africa, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, was killed during fighting between Islamists and French army units.

The French Government announced that the soldier "was mortally wounded during fighting against armed terrorists taking refuge in the Adrar of the Ifoghas, in northern Mali.

[7] From 4 to 7 March, the raids continued in the valley of Ametettaï, since the beginning of the operation the French General Staff believes have "neutralized" more than two hundred and jihadists and have seized a thousand rockets or grenades, more than 60,000 rounds of ammunition, nearly 1,500 shells and twenty heavy weapons such as artillery guns.

[7] From 7 to 11 March, in the region of the Adrar des Ifoghas, troops complete their operations of excavation of caves in looking for insurgents.

Meanwhile, an armored squadron of AMX-10 RC supported by fighters, took part in a reconnaissance mission, northeast of Ifoghas and take over the villages of Boghassa and Tinzawatène .

[7] On the morning of 12 March, soldiers from the 2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment engaged a group of Islamist fighters.

The Chadian forces, commanded by General Deby, are positioned themselves to block out the escape routes and prevent the arrival of reinforcements from the region of Kidal.