Three French soldiers die during an operation in Mali 

Three French soldiers were killed on Monday in Mali during an operation in which the armoured vehicle in which they were standing was hit by an explosive device in the region of Hombori, in the centre of the African country, the French presidency reported. 

"The President of the Republic salutes with the greatest respect the memory of these soldiers, killed by France in the accomplishment of its mission," said the Elysée in a statement in which President Emmanuel Macron conveyed his condolences and the solidarity of the nation to the families and comrades. 

The victims were a brigade commander and two soldiers from the first hunting regiment of Thierville-sur-Meuse, in Lorraine, an infantry corps specially trained for rapid action. 

Mr. Macron expressed "his total confidence in the soldiers deployed in the Sahel" and praised their "courage" while reiterating France's determination to continue its fight against terrorism there. 

France has deployed more than 4,000 troops in five Sahel countries (Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso) with the stated aim of supporting local armies and preventing the establishment of terrorist sanctuaries in the region. 

Operation Barkhane followed another operation called Serval in 2014 and was launched in early 2013 by then president François Hollande to dismantle bases where jihadist groups had become strong in northern Mali and threatened to take control of the entire country. Since then, 47 French soldiers have been killed in these two operations.