13 French soldiers killed in helicopter collision in Mali, where troops confront Islamic militants
- French President Emmanuel Macron pays tribute upon hearing of the crash, which occurred during a combat operation
- A new surge in extremist attacks in Mali has killed well over 100 local troops in the past two months
Thirteen French soldiers were killed in Mali when two helicopters collided while fighting insurgents in the country’s restive north, officials said on Tuesday, the heaviest single loss for the French military in nearly four decades.
The accident occurred late on Monday while the helicopters were reinforcing ground troops pursuing the insurgents in the Liptako region, near the borders of Burkina Faso and Niger, the armed forces ministry said.
A Tiger attack helicopter collided with a Cougar military transport helicopter while engaging the insurgents fleeing on motorbikes and in pick-up trucks. Both aircraft crashed not far from each other, killing all on board, the ministry said.
One of the victims was the son of French Senator Jean-Marie Bockel, a centrist and former government minister who sits on the senate’s armed forces committee, the father confirmed.
“These 13 heroes had just one goal: To protect us. I bow my head in front of the pain of their families and comrades,” President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter.
Macron promised this month new measures “in the coming weeks” to bolster the fight against the Islamic insurgency in the Sahel, after receiving the presidents of Mali, Chad and Niger at the Elysee Palace.
