France announced that two French soldiers died in the African country of Mali when an improvised explosive device hit their armored vehicle
PARIS – The French Presidency announced that two French soldiers died in Mali on Saturday when an improvised explosive device hit their armored vehicle, five days after three others died in similar circumstances.
The soldiers took part in an intelligence mission in the Menaka region of northeastern Mali, as part of a larger operation targeting Islamist extremists in the African Sahel region.
A third soldier has been injured and is in a stable condition, according to the French army.
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 deep grief” in a statement released late Saturday. He reaffirmed France’s determination “in its fight against terrorism” and paid tribute to the “courage” of French soldiers.
France has deployed more than 5,000 troops in West Africa to help combat extremist groups as part of Operation Barkhane.
Islamic extremist rebels were forced to lose power in northern Mali after a French-led military operation in 2013. The rebels regrouped in the desert and now regularly attack the Malian army and its allies.
These deaths bring the number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel region to 50 since 2013.