Britain will provide transport planes to assist the French military operation in Mali, Downing Street has confirmed, reports Sky News.
David Cameron spoke with Francois Hollande on Saturday evening as France attempted to contain al Qaeda-linked rebels in the north of the West African country.
French military strikes on the country have already claimed the lives of at least 100 rebels in a fight over the strategic town of Konna.
Eleven Malian soldiers are reported to have been killed and a further 60 wounded in the recent fighting.
Mr Hollande has raised his country's terror threat level amid fears of retaliatory attacks in France.
He said France "has to take all necessary precautions" in the face of a terrorist threat, including "surveillance of our public buildings and our transport network".
A Downing Street spokesman said last night: "The Prime Minister spoke to President Hollande this evening to discuss the deteriorating situation in Mali and how the UK can support French military assistance provided to the Malian government to contain rebel and extremist groups in the north of the country.
"The Prime Minister has agreed that the UK will provide logistical military assistance to help transport foreign troops and equipment quickly to Mali.
"We will not be deploying any British personnel in a combat role.
"Both leaders agreed that the situation in Mali poses a real threat to international security given terrorist activity there.
"They discussed the need to work with the Malian government, regional neighbours and international partners to prevent a new terrorist haven developing on Europe's doorstep and to reinvigorate the UN led political process once the rebel advance has been halted.
"The National Security Council, which was already due to meet on Tuesday, will now consider the situation in Mali and discuss what needs to be done to secure a lasting political settlement in Mali."
Read more of this report from Sky News.