The operation Military_operation ended Process_end on July 15 , 2014 , and was replaced by Operation Barkhane , launched Process_start on August 1 , 2014 to fight Islamist fighters in the Sahel .

In 2012 , AQIM and Islamist allies captured Conquering the northern half of Mali , until being fought Hostile_encounter back less than a year later following a French-led foreign intervention Preventing_or_letting , which was succeeded by the Sahel-wide Operation Barkhane .