Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali were killed in a collision between two helicopters, French officials announced today.
France has more than 4,5 soldiers fighting against Islamic State jihadists in the Sahel region, where violence by extremists linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State has been on the rise in recent years, Reuters reports.
"The president expresses deep sorrow for the death of 13 French soldiers in Mali, in an accident involving two helicopters during a combat mission against jihadists," the presidential palace said in a statement.
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