Two French soldiers killed in rescue of four hostages in Burkina Faso

French forces have freed two French hostages as well
as an American and a South Korean in northern Burkina Faso in a military raid
that cost the lives of two soldiers, the French presidency said Friday.
The military operation took place overnight in a bid
to free the two French tourists, identified as Patrick Picque and Laurent
Lassimouillas, who disappeared during a safari in the remote Pendjari National
Park in Benin on May 1.
The identity of the American and South Korean
hostages was not immediately known, but they were both said to be women.
The location of the raid confirmed that the French
tourists had been kidnapped in Benin and taken over the border into Burkina
Faso, where extremist terror groups have stepped up attacks in recent months.
President Emmanuel Macron “wants to congratulate the
French armed forces for the liberation of the hostages, and includes everyone
who worked alongside them,” a statement from the presidency said.
“He bows with emotion and solemnity before the
sacrifice of our two soldiers who gave their lives to save those of our
citizens,” the statement added.
In a separate statement, Defence Minister Florence
Parly thanked authorities in Benin and Burkina Faso, as well as the United
States for its “precious support” in the operation.
France has thousands of regular troops and special
forces as part of its Barkhane force stationed in the poverty-wracked and
violence-hit Sahel region of northwest Africa.