French memorial service for soldiers killed in Mali French army suffers worst losses in 36 years

  French media said that on the 2nd, France held a national mourning ceremony for soldiers killed in Mali a week ago.

    According to a report on the French "Le Monde" website on December 2, the memorial service was held at the Les Invalides, which houses disabled veterans since the 17th century, and was chaired by Emmanuel Macron. Faced with these 13 coffins bearing the French flag, Macron said: "They lost their lives, for France, for the protection of the Sahelian people, for the safety of their fellow citizens and the freedom of the world, and for all of us here. . "

    It was reported that during a combat operation northeast of Mali, two helicopters collided, killing 13 people. Their bodies were returned to France on the 1st. Macron salutes: "The reason why their deep, simple, low-key vows are known to the world is to rely on maximum sacrifice, and not to rely on public talk."

    Macron "bows for their sacrifice and for the sorrow of their families in the name of the country", and then briefly introduces the military career of each soldier.

    After Macron delivered his eulogy, the 13 soldiers who "killed their country" captured the Knight of the Legion of Honor.

    It is reported that this tragic death has caused strong repercussions in France. Since the death of 58 people in a terrorist attack on the French army headquarters in Beirut in 1983, the French army has not suffered such a significant loss.

    It is reported that the deaths of these soldiers have also re-raised questions about French military operations in the Sahel, and the security situation in the region has been deteriorating, and only the "Unyielding France" party has publicly called for the recall of troops.

    French media pointed out that France mobilized 4,500 people to fight against armed groups in the Sahel-Saharan region, a vast area about the size of Europe. But the French army maintained an uninterrupted presence for 6 years and sacrificed 41 people for this, and the prospects became increasingly gloomy. Violence continued in northern Mali and spread to central and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. The loss of local troops is increasing and ineffective.

    On November 28, Macron announced his intention to re-examine France's strategy in the context of tense security in the Sahel and called on Europeans to increase their participation. "The situation we are facing in the Sahel now prompts us to consider all strategic options," he stated.