France has a definite stake in Mali and its move was based on mutual interests of French and Malian government. So, I would not call it intervention. Direct military retaliation by French forces never happened before the UN approval.

We all understand that due to KSA's funding for promotion of Islam, these Salafis have developed a deep rooted network in many countries and working for their own interests. As said earlier in this thread, this funding needs to be stopped.