France flies out 2 Mirage fighter jets from Chad to signal beginning of military withdrawal

PARIS (AP) — The French military says it has flown out the two Mirage fighter jets it had stationed in Chad, signaling the beginning of its withdrawal of military forces from the central African country. A French military spokesman said negotiations with Chadian authorities continue on how and when France might withdraw other members of its 1,000-strong force in Chad and whether all will leave. Chad was one of the last countries in the region where France maintained a large military presence. French forces have been ousted from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso following years of fighting Islamic extremists. Those countries have moved closer to Russia.