Mali: two French soldiers killed in the Ménaka region
French soldiers from Operation Barkhane on patrol in Mali (illustration).
© AFP / Pascal Guyot
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Two soldiers of the 2nd Haguenau Hussar Regiment were killed this Saturday, January 2 in Mali.
According to a statement from the French presidency, their vehicle was the object of an improvised explosive device attack during an intelligence mission in the Menaka region.
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Emmanuel Macron "
learned with great sadness
" of the death this Saturday at the end of the morning of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loïc Risser, of the 2nd Hussar Regiment of Haguenau (Alsace), indicates the press release from the Elysee.
Yvonne Huynh, 33, is the first woman in the French army killed in the Sahel since the Serval intervention in 2013. Loïc Risser was 24 years old.
Both were engaged in a regiment specializing in intelligence.
“
Their vehicle was the object of an improvised explosive device attack during an intelligence mission
” in the region of Ménaka, specified the French presidency.
The attack injured a third soldier, whose life is not in danger.
Deep sadness at the news of the deaths in combat of SGT Yvonne HUYNH and BRI Loïc RISSER as part of Operation #Barkhane.
Thoughts moved from all over the land for their families, loved ones as well as for their wounded comrade. # FiersDeNosSoldats 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/PQclXF6Erf
- Chief of Staff of the Army (@CEMAT_FR) January 2, 2021
Emmanuel Macron praised the memory of the two soldiers, "who
died for France in the performance of their duty
".
He also reaffirmed "
France's determination in its fight against terrorism
".
The Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly paid tribute "
to the strength of their commitment, their courage and their self-sacrifice
".
"
The motivation, the pugnacity and the self-sacrifice of the French soldiers remain intact in the face of terrorist groups, Daesh and Al-Qaeda networks, which sow terror and chaos in Mali and the Sahel,
" she added.
France has lost two of its children.
I pay tribute to the strength of the commitment of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loïc Risser, of the 2nd Hussar Regiment of Haguenau.
They embody the honor and bravery of the Chamborant hussars.
My thoughts are with their families.
pic.twitter.com/91r9oCXByh
- Florence Parly (@florence_parly) January 2, 2021
This attack comes five days after the
one that caused the death of three French soldiers
, killed Monday in similar circumstances.
Their armored vehicle had been hit by an IED while they were participating in an operation in the Hombori region, in the Malian Gourma, the French presidency said in a statement.
This attack was claimed on Saturday by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, affiliated with Al-Qaeda
The two deaths on Saturday bring to 49 the number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel since 2013 in the Serval then Barkhane operations.
This figure stands at 50 if we add a soldier who died in Chad in 2013 as part of Operation Epervier.
(
With
AFP)
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