France Army Operation Barkhane Master Corporal Maxime Blasco, 34, was killed died in a battle with a terrorist group in West Africa Mali Sept. 24, 2021. ( Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
France announced that Mastor Corporal Maxime Blasco, 34, was shot dead during military action against an armed terrorist group in the Gourma region of West African nation Mali. CCH Blasco is the 52nd French soldier killed since the 2013 launch of the anti-jihadist operations Serval, and then Barkhane, in the African Sahel region. Despite the high French casualties in the Sahel, France said it will not abandon the region and will continue Operation Barkhane.
Florence Parly: "Nous ne quittons pas le Sahel, la lutte contre le terrorisme reste notre priorité absolue" pic.twitter.com/gemuCgiPhs
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) September 16, 2021
Born on December 4, 1986, in Grenoble, Corporal Blasco spent his entire career in the 7th Battalion of the Chasseurs Alpins (Alpine Hunters). “He enlisted on August 1, 2012, and quickly distinguished himself during his basic training thanks to his positive attitude and skills. In turn, he became a marksman and then sharpshooter with the Groupe Commando Montagne (Mountain Commando Group),” according to a statement from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. On September 24, Corporal Blasco was killed in action during a reconnaissance and harassment mission conducted by the Barkhane force in the Gourma region of Mali southeast of N’Daki in the vicinity of Gossi, near the border between Mali and Burkina Faso.
Hier à Gao, dernier hommage de la Force @BARKHANE_OP au caporal-chef Maxime BLASCO, mort pour la France le vendredi 24 septembre. Le combat continue. #Reconnaissance pic.twitter.com/qWjZrYGD5C
— Chef d'état-major des armées (@CEMA_FR) September 28, 2021
More Than 50 French Soldiers Killed in Operation Barkhane in Sahel Since 2013
(credit: defense.gouv.fr) BCH Tanerii MAURI, 1 CL Quentin PAUCHET and 1 CL Dorian ISSAKHANIAN of the 1st Chasseurs regiment of Thierville-sur-Meuse were killed Dec. 28, 2020 in the region of Hombori, Mali.
On Dec. 28, 2020, Three French Operation Barkhane soldiers were killed in operation in Mali when their armored vehicle was hit by an explosive device in the region of Hombori, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced. During a convoy escort mission, BCH Tanerii MAURI, 1 CL Quentin PAUCHET and 1 CL Dorian ISSAKHANIAN of the 1st Chasseurs regiment of Thierville-sur-Meuse died in the explosion in West Africa nation Mali. According to the Ministry of Armies, the soldiers were operating in an area where terrorist groups were attacking civilian populations and threatening regional stability. In its statement, the French Presidency underlined France’s determination to continue the fight against terrorism.
French brigadier-chef Andy Fila died in north-central Africa Chad on July 31, 2020. / (Etat Major des Armées)
On Sep. 5, 2020, two French soldiers died after their armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in a military operation in Mali’s northeastern Kidal region.
On Jul. 31, 2020, a French Operation Barkhane soldier was killed in a maintenance operation in north-central Africa nation Chad after a piece of equipment exploded, the defense ministry said.
1st Class Parachute Hussar Tojohasina Razafintsalama, of the France 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment of Tarbes, died in action Jul. 23, 2020 in Mali. / Etat Major des Armées
On July, 23, 2020, Tojohasina Razafintsalama, a soldier of the French force Barkhane in the west Africa Sahel was killed in the region of Gossi, in the center of Mali, during fighting against armed terrorist groups, the Elysee said. Razafintsalama, 25-years-old, born in Mahazarivo, Madagasca, was killed when an improvised explosive device was triggered next to his armoured vehicle. During the explosion, two other soldiers present in the vehicle, which was on a reconnaissance mission, were also injured, then evacuated in serious condition to the military hospital in Gao before being repatriated in the evening.
FRANCE OPERATION BARKHANE Deploys 5,200 Troops in SAHEL
Sources : EMA / Rights : France Ministère de la Défense
La stratégie sahélienne de la France vise à ce que les États partenaires acquièrent la capacité, d’assurer leur sécurité de façon autonome. Elle repose sur une approche globale (politique, sécuritaire et de développement) dont le volet militaire est porté par l’opération Barkhane, conduite par les armées françaises.
Pentagon said the U.S. Military will Reinforce its Support To France in its counter-terrorism operations in African Sahel
Pentagon Press Briefing Room seal as seen March 27, 2020, Washington, D.C. (DoDo photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
The Pentagon said the U.S. military will continue to be a strong partner with France in its counter-terrorism operations in the troubled African Sahel region. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly Monday over the phone to discuss the evolving situation in the Sahel. Secretary Austin “applauded French leadership in countering terrorism in the region and assured her of continued U.S. support for this important mission,” according to a statement of the two defense officials’ phone conversation provided to reporters by Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby.
“Secretary Austin also gave his condolences for the death of French soldier Maxime Blasco, who was killed in a militant clash on the Mali-Burkina Faso border Saturday. The two leaders agreed to continue regular consultations on the situation in the Sahel.” – Pentagon
U.S. Continues “Long-standing Support” to France
“It absolutely has real world implications, and we continue to provide a measure of support to French operations in the Sahel. And that’s what this line was referring to was the long-standing support that we continue to provide the French.,” Pentagon press secretary Kirby said of last week’s conversation between President Biden and French President Macron conversation regarding the U.S. to reinforce is military cooperation with France in the Sahel.
The Pentagon spokesperson declined to provide specific details regarding U.S. troops deployed in joint military operations in with France.
“I won’t speak to specifics about increases or decreases. What I can tell you is that we have supported some of their operations in that part of the world, we’re going to continue to do that. And clearly we’re going to look for ways to make it as affective as possible going forward. And I can’t rule in or rule out any particular element of that support, …in terms of whether it’s going to increase as a result of this conversation today. But when I saw the verb ‘reinforce,’ what I took away was that we’re going to stay committed to that task. When it comes to counterterrorism operations, there’s no business as usual. I mean, it’s something you focus on day to day. And as you’ve heard the Secretary of State before, he has praised the French and their military efforts in the Sahel specifically. And we are, and have been for quite some time, supporting them through a variety of means. And as I said , when we look at the word ‘reinforcing,’ it means exactly that- we’re going to continue to stay committed to that task, to helping the French in their operations in that part of the world against the terrorist threat and that support, has and will continue to change over time situationally as it needs to. “
-Pentagon Press Secretary Kirby
