The Malian government extended a state of emergency as French forces continued their assault on Islamic extremists trying to overtake the country.

Monday had France’s air force launching over a dozen strikes on various terrorist positions. They were focused on “terrorist vehicles.”

France reiterated their desire to have African troops take the lead in the battle against the Islamists as 400 troops from Nigeria, Togo and Benin arrived in the Malian capital. Troops from Chad, who are considered familiar with the terrain like that in northern Mali, arrived in the country Monday.

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi spoke out against the action against Islamists. Morsi, an Islamist party leader, said that Egypy can “never accept military intervention in Mali.”