New attack against a vehicle of Operation Barkhane near Menaka in Mali (v3)
(B2) An operation Barkhane patrol was reached this Saturday (January 2) at the beginning of the afternoon. Two dead and one seriously injured are among the French forces
The incident took place near the locality of Tabangoute, 2 km north of the town of Menaka in Mali. The attack by an improvised explosive device (IED) caused several casualties in the ranks of the military, according to Wassim Nasr, citing local & concordant sources. It is the work of the JNIM (1), specifies the watchman-analyst and journalist for France 24. Organization which has in the zone a " home-made rocket firing platform ". The exact toll is unconfirmed. But we are talking about at least two deaths and several a seriously injured soldier, evacuated to the hospital of the Gao military base (Mali).
#Mali according to local & concordant sources "a convoy #Barkhane was hit by an IED in the early afternoon towards the locality of Tabangoute, 2km north of the town of #Menaka » // activity area of the #JNIM #AQIM also used as a platform for firing homemade rockets pic.twitter.com/FouizZf7I2
- Wassim Nasr (@SimNasr) January 2, 2021
The staff of the armies, requested by B2 around 20 p.m., initially did not wish to comment on the news. Which doesn't really bode well. In general, it is a question on the one hand of warning the families concerned, but also of consolidating the exact assessment and of developing the political communication.
Two dead and one injured
(Update) The information was officially confirmed at 23 p.m. " Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loïc Risser of the 2nd Hussar Regiment of Haguenau died in action north of Ménaka “, Details the staff of the armies in a press release. Despite the immediate care provided by the detachment's first aider, " they succumbed to the consequences of the explosion ". A third soldier was injured. Its state " is stable and his medical prognosis is not engaged ". Means of observation and aerial protection (of the fighter aircraft type) as well as a rapid reaction force on the ground (intervened by helicopter) have " been deployed in order to guarantee the protection of the elements, such as the evacuation of victims.
An IED device
Their light armored vehicle which was part of an observation and intelligence patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device.
NB: this is indeed a mine-type IED. An EOD investigation team was deployed to the site to determine the modus operandi used (by pressure or remote control of the mine), as well as its design. What is important to define the source or the group at the origin of the explosion.
Second incident in less than a week
This is the second incident in less than a week. The previous one took place on Monday, in another area, near Hombori (read: Three Barkhane soldiers die in an IED). But Menaka is a key area. This is where the Czech soldiers who will operate with the French as part of the Takuba Task Force (bringing together European special forces under the command of Barkhane) must settle (read: Takuba. Czech deployment in progress).
Tribute
Several tributes were paid to French soldiers from European officials " It is the whole of Europe that bows before the sacrifice of these young people killed far from home and who, by protecting peace and stability in the Sahel, also strengthen our security in Europe. said Charles Michel, via Twitter.
(NGV)
- The Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM or JNIM in Arabic) brings together several rebel and terrorist movements and is affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
- Chief of Czechoslovakian military intelligence during the period of the 2nd World War.
Updated 23:30 p.m. (v2) Confirmation of the balance sheet. Details on the explosive device and on the Czech presence. 5.1 (v3) Added Charles Michel's comment