France Arrests 'High-Ranking' Islamic State Fighter in Mali

PARIS - French forces in Mali have captured a man they describe as a "high-ranking fighter of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara" (EIGS), the French military said Wednesday.  

Dadi Ould Chouaib, also known as Abou Dardar, was arrested June 11 in the flashpoint "tri-border" region between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, the site of frequent attacks by extremist groups, the military said in a statement.  He was carrying "an automatic weapon, a night vision telescope, a combat vest, a telephone and a radio," but surrendered without resistance.  He was located during a helicopter sweep as part of a joint mission between troops from France's Barkhane operation and Nigerien forces.