Mali: a French soldier killed in action “against a terrorist group”

Published on : 09/24/2021 – 22:06Modified : 09/24/2021 – 10:19 PM

A new victim among the French soldiers engaged in the Sahel. A man was killed in action in Mali on Friday morning September 24, announced the French presidency in the evening. The Élysée Palace expressed “particularly strong emotion” from 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.

The Ministry of the Armed Forces sends its deepest condolences to the family, relatives and brothers in arms of Master Corporal Maxime Blasco, who died for France while fighting terrorists as part of Operation Barkhane, on September 24 in Mali . #MPLF pic.twitter.com/s0Xc6Vcy9J

– Ministry of the Armed Forces (@Armees_Gouv) September 24, 2021

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 reconnaissance and intelligence mission.

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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