The Élysée announced this morning the deaths of 13 French servicemen, who were killed in a collision between two helicopters on the evening of Monday 25 November.
Thirteen French servicemen (6 officers, 6 non-commissioned officers and 1 master corporal) deployed on Operation Barkhane in the Sahel were killed when a “TIGRE” (combat helicopter) and a “COUGAR” (transport helicopter) accidentally collided during an operation against jihadists.
The President of the Republic pays tribute “with the utmost respect to the memory of those soldiers of the Army who fell in action and died for France in the fierce fight against terrorism in the Sahel” and extends his condolences to their families and loved ones.
This incident brings to 38 the number of French soldiers killed in Mali since the start of the French military operation in this Sahel country in 2013.