Three French soldiers were killed after their armored vehicle hit an IED during counterterrorist operations in the Hombori area of Mali’s central Mopti province. A statement released from the French Defense Ministry said that emergency medical treatment couldn’t save the troops. “The soldiers died while engaging in an area where terrorist groups attack civilian populations and threaten regional stability as well as our own security,” French Defense Minister Florence Parly said. In targeting the Islamic jihadists, French and Malian troops have launched several different operations to restore government control of the country’s outlying areas. In November, French forces targeted and killed the al-Qaeda commander in North Africa, Bah ag Moussa.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 31, 2020 12:56 UTC