A new victim in the French camp.
A French soldier was killed in action in Mali on Friday morning September 24, the French presidency announced a few hours later.
The Élysée Palace then expressed the "particularly strong emotion" of President Emmanuel Macron, who "reaffirms France's determination in its fight against terrorism".
Master Corporal Maxime Blasco, of the 7th Battalion of Alpine Chasseurs of Varces (Isère), died in action "against an armed terrorist group".
He had received in June the military medal "for the exceptional value of his services", specified the Elysee in a press release.
His death brings to 52 the number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel since 2013 in the anti-jihadist operations Serval and then Barkhane.
On January 2, two soldiers including a woman, both of the 2nd Hussar Regiment of Haguenau (Bas-Rhin), were killed in their light armored vehicle (LAV) by an "improvised explosive device", during a mission of reconnaissance and intelligence.
Five days before, three soldiers of the 1st regiment of hunters of Thierville-sur-Meuse (Meuse) had also been victims of a homemade bomb.
Both fatal attacks were claimed by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
With AFP
>>> Read also: In Mali, a new war of influence between France and Russia
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