Complex sentence: Some residents of al-Mleha had previously informed the rebels of the French Army's approach and when the French withdrew from their operation, they looted and set the village on fire.
Split into simpler sentences: Some residents of al-Mleha had previously informed the rebels of the French army's approach causing the French to abort the operation. As they withdrew from al-Mleha, French troops looted and set the village on fire.