Mali conflict: French troops 'dismantle al-Qaeda base'
Jean-Yves Le Drian saw for himself the seized base in the Ifoghas mountains
Jean-Yves Le Drian said a "very impressive" arsenal of weapons had been recovered from the site, called Ametetai, in the Ifoghas mountains.
He also said a French national fighting with the militants had been captured.
French President Francois Hollande said earlier this week French troops would begin withdrawing from Mali next month.
He said the final phase of military intervention would continue throughout March and be scaled down in April.
Overall, France has lost four soldiers in fighting in the two areas since they began military operations in Mali on 11 January. Chad lost 26 troops in a single assault on 22 February, and officials say more than 100 militants have been killed.
Chad has said that, along with Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, veteran Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar was also killed. The French have so far not confirmed these reports.
France currently has 4,000 troops in the West African state, having intervened militarily amid fears the rebels were preparing to advance on Bamako.
Mali's army and troops from several African countries, including 2,000 from Chad, have also been involved in the fighting.
A coalition of Islamist and separatist rebels expanded their control of northern Mali a year ago after a military coup in Bamako.
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