mujao forces still present in gao were no longer very important, with about 60 fighters divided into two groups defended the wabaria bridge which guard the southern entrance of the city. the first group is posted at the level of a toll, the second is placed further upstream. to take the city, the french army engages in front line its special forces (cos). about fifty men are responsible for taking the bridge, others the airport. a total of 88 special forces soldiers took in the fighting in gao. they had come mainly from the 1st marine infantry parachute regiment ( 1st rpima) and air parachute commando no. 10 (cpa-10). this force was supported by two tiger helicopters and two gazelle helicopters, while five puma helicopters were tasked with carrying six groups of marine commandos. behind the special forces, an important 15-kilometer french-malian column is also moving on gao. however, it will not take part in the fight, the action of the special forces proving sufficient to drive the jihadists out of the city. the french side is close to 100 soldiers with six erc-90 armored vehicles. the malian army engaged for its 466 soldiers commanded by colonel samaké with two bm-21 and fifty pick-up. in total, the column counts 563 malian and french soldiers and 93 vehicles.