Two soldiers of the French Barkhane force were killed in operation Saturday in Mali "after the destruction of their armored vehicle by an improvised explosive device", announced the Elysee in a statement, adding that a third soldier had been wounded in the 'explosion.
Two soldiers of the French force Barkhane au Sahel, of the 1st parachute hussar regiment of Tarbes, were killed in operation Saturday in Mali by the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) as their armored vehicle passed, announced the 'Elysium.
"The President of the Republic learned with great emotion of 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 , this morning during an operation in the region of Tessalit in Mali, "the presidency said in a statement, adding that a third soldier was injured in the explosion.
45 French soldiers have died in Mali since 2013
"The President of the Republic bows with deep respect before the sacrifice of these soldiers of the 1st parachute hussar regiment of Tarbes, who died for France in the accomplishment of their mission against terrorism in the Sahel", added the Elysée who, at the request of the family, did not publish the name of one of the two soldiers killed.
Operation Barkhane counts around 5,100 soldiers.
In total, 45 French soldiers, including the two soldiers killed on Saturday, died in combat in operations Serval (2013) and Barkhane (since 2014), according to the general staff.
A count that does not include accidents.
Expressing his "very sincere condolences to their families, relatives and all their brothers in arms", Emmanuel Macron again called "for the immediate establishment of a civil political transition in Mali, in accordance with the expectations of its people, of all the countries which support it, and a sine qua non for an effective fight against terrorists ".