French airstrikes in Mali have taken a turn in focusing on the supply routes being used to replenish the terrorists focused on taking over the government.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told a national radio station that the terrorists would not be able to continue hiding in the northern part of Mali without fresh supplies. The terrorists have fled to the hills in the northern part of the country after being driven from major cities by a combined French-Malian force.

Fabius confirmed thirty air strikes by French fighter jets in the mountain region where the terrorists are believed to be hiding. The strikes were an attempt to “keep them from regrouping.”

Fabius refused to answer questions about whether the air strikes were a prelude to a new ground assault as similar tactics were used prior to French troops landing on the ground in Mali. He did say the transition to an all-African force could happen “very fast.”

Malian Interim President Dioncounda Traore had a less optimistic tone when asked about the situation, saying it would be “very difficult” to rid the country of the terrorists.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, in France for meetings with President Francois Hollande, said that the transition to a United Nations peacekeeping force should be made swiftly.