Mali: two French soldiers killed by an explosive device in the Tessalit region
French soldiers of Operation Barkhane in Mali REUTERS
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Two soldiers of the French force in the Sahel Barkhane were killed and a seriously injured Saturday, September 5 in the morning by a homemade bomb in northern Mali.
Publicity
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A statement from the French Presidency announced "
the death of two French soldiers, Brigadier-Chief First Class ST and Hussar Parachutist First Class Arnaud Volpe, after the destruction of their armored vehicle by an improvised explosive device (... ) during an operation
”in the region of Tessalit, in northern Mali.
"
The three members of the vehicle were very seriously injured and immediately taken care of
", specified shortly after the staff of the French armies.
Two succumbed to their injuries, and "
their comrade's condition is stable, but his vital prognosis remains reserved
."
Zone control operation
Questioned by
RFI
, Colonel Frédéric Barbry, spokesperson for the French army staff, explained that the hussars, members of a regiment deployed since July 3, had died "
in combat
" during “
An area control operation near their deployment base
”.
“
This is a very usual area control operation, which allows us to deny the enemy any possibility of free access to the region.
"
"
To date, the armed terrorist group which laid the explosive has not been identified and it is all the work of the investigation that will be carried out to find out whether this improvised explosive device was planted recently or even before the season. rain
”, detailed Colonel Barbry.
"
Courage and determination
"
"
The President of the Republic once again salutes the courage and determination of the French soldiers deployed in the Sahel, alongside their brothers in arms from the many countries engaged jointly in this difficult mission,
" added the Elysee in its press release.
According to the general staff, this report brings to 45 the number of French soldiers who died in combat during operations Serval (2013) and Barkhane (since August 2014), which has some 5,000 soldiers.
In November 2019, France had lost 13 in an accident between two helicopters in operation in Mali.
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