Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III greets French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and German Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer prior to tri-lateral meetings in Brussels, Belgium, June 15, 2021. (DoD Photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

By  Gary   Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC    TIMES

WASHINGTON   DC  –  PENTAGON   –   U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly today over the phone. Secretary Austin expressed condolences for the death of a French soldier, Brigadier Alexandre Martin, who was killed in Mali last week. Secretary Austin thanked Minister Parly for France’s counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel.

53 French Soldiers Killed in Sahel Operation Barkhane Since 2013

Brigadier Alexandre Martin , of the 54th artillery regiment, was killed in combat in Mali Jan. 22, 2022 (Source: ministère des armées françaises)

A French soldier was killed last Saturday in a mortar attack on the Operation Barkhane military camp in Gao, Mali as France reduces its forces in the West Africa Sahel region. The French camp was the target of ten mortar shells. Several French soldiers were hit by these shots, including Brigadier Martin. Despite immediate treatment, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing emergency surgery at the camp’s medical unit, the French minister of the Armed Forces said in a statement.  The death  of the 24-year-old artilleryman brings to 53 the total number of combat deaths suffered by French forces since they first deployed troops in the Sahel in 2013 for its battle against Islamist extremists. French President Macron announced last July that France will cease its mission to fight jihadism in the Sahel in the first quarter of this year. France will then gradually reduce troops in the Sahel from its current 5,100 soldiers to 2,500 by the year 2023.  

The United States Continues Support For French and African partners in Sahel Region 

The U.S. Department of Defense will continue to support France as the French military is set to end its Operation Barkhane counter-terror mission in the African Sahel this year.  The Pentagon remains committed to supporting France in its counter-terror efforts in the Sahel region, a spokesperson said.