Two French soldiers killed during mission in Mali
The press office of the French army (Sirpa) shows sergeant Yvonne Huynh (L) and Brigadier Loic Risser,
PARIS:
The French presidency announced that two French soldiers were killed
Saturday in Mali when an improvised explosive device hit their armored
vehicle, five days after three others died in similar circumstances.
The
soldiers were participating in an intelligence mission in the Menaka
region of northeastern Mali, as part of a larger operation aiming at
fighting Islamist extremists in Africa's Sahel region.
A third soldier has been injured and is in a stable condition, the French military said.
On
Monday, three other soldiers were killed in Mali when an improvised
explosive device hit their armored vehicle during a military operation
in the Hombori area of Mali's central Mopti province.
French
President Emmanuel Macron expressed ``his great sadness'' in a statement
released late on Saturday. He reaffirmed France's determination ``in
its fight against terrorism'' and paid tribute to the ''courage`` of
French soldiers.
France has more than 5,000 troops deployed in West Africa to help fight extremist groups as part of Operation Barkhane.
Islamic
extremist rebels were forced from power in northern Mali after a 2013
French-led military operation. The rebels regrouped in the desert and
now launch frequent attacks on the Malian army and its allies.
These deaths bring to 50 the number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel region since 2013.
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