And on Thursday, his casket was wrapped in an American flag as it was transported off a military plane onto the tarmac of Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, according to the U.S. Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

He confirmed that the French air force was involved in the operation, but gave no details.

BBC: France confirms Mali military intervention

The entire operation was part of Air Force Special Operations Command, but recently moved under the umbrella of Air Combat Command.

CNN: Quade: Secretive military team allows reporter inside

Glenelg, Kintail and Royal Air Force mountain rescue teams were involved in the operation, alongside the coastguard and police dog units.

BBC: Clive Dennier

Operation Airbridge Denial had supplied information from US surveillance equipment to local air force planes for them to intercept suspected drug flights.

BBC: Colombia drug flights 'to resume'

Several Nato members, including the US and France, say they will help to train an African force for the Mali operation, but have not offered to send ground troops or launch air strikes.

BBC: Nato forces needed in Mali, says AU's Thomas Boni Yayi