Attack against a Barkhane camp in the Akabar region (V2)

(B2) The French armed forces of Operation Barkhane were attacked on Sunday (March 10) in the Akabar region, in southeastern Mali, where they had established a temporary camp.

A complex attack

The attack was made in two stages. In the afternoon, a suicide vehicle first tried to force the device of the detachment. " The soldiers opened fire and stopped the vehicle which detonated about thirty meters from its target “ indicates the staff of the armies.

In the continuity of this suicide attack, about fifteen fighters on motorcycles arrived, opening fire against the detachment. A patrol of Mirage 2000 intervened for a 'show of presence'. "The speed and vigor of the reaction of the French detachment" as the effect of air patrol " forced the attackers to flee ».

Four soldiers injured

On the balance sheet (updated on March 14): four French soldiers injured. Two of them were seriously injured, requiring evacuation to mainland France the same day, after on-site treatment by the medical services of the Barkhane force. The other two have minor injuries and were repatriated within the week. Their days are not in danger.

Evacuation by Canadian helicopters

Canadian helicopters assigned to the United Nations mission carried out the medical evacuation. A CH-147F Chinook helicopter and two CH-146 Griffon helicopters, indicates our colleague 45th North Canada. The Canadian Task Force in Mali responded to France's request after authorization from the Commander of MINUSMA.

NB: This is not the first time that this type of assistance has been provided. Agreements link Operation Barkhane and the Minusma allowing reciprocal interventions for the benefit of soldiers from one or the other force. So on April 18, 2018, when the MINUSMA is victim in Timbuktu of a complex terrorist attack, Mirage also intervened for a show of force.

(NGV)

Updated 26.3 on evacuation by Canadian Chinooks