French soldiers killed in Mali
Saeed Pourreza
Press TV, London
France has continued to react to the deaths of 13 soldiers on a combat mission in Mali.
French lawmakers held a moment of silence for the men who were killed when their Tiger and Cougar helicopters collided in near darkness whilst providing air support to ground troop tracking Takfiri terrorists in the west African country.
France's defence minister Florence Parly gave a press conference where she praised the bravery of the fallen troops. She also thanked French allies for their solidarity as the nation comes to terms with the single biggest loss of French troops in a single day since an attack in Beirut, Lebanon, 36 years ago when 58 soldiers died.
France, the former colonial power in the region, first intervened in Mali in 2013 to drive out terrorists who had occupied the north and parts of the arid Sahel region. It still has a 4,500-strong Barkhane force countering insurgencies in the wider region. Speaking on Tuesday, Mali’s president expressed his sympathies to France.
The 13 killed on Monday brings to 41 the total number of French soldiers who have died in Mali since France launched its counterinsurgency operation. The latest deaths draw attention to the thousands of French troops stationed across West Africa raising questions about whether they are stretched too thin and if their presence is having any positive impact on the region.
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