French, Malian forces conduct joint anti-terrorist operation

Burkinabe and Malian units supported by French troops conducted a major joint counter-terrorism effort called Operation ‘Panga’ between from 27 March to 10 April, Burkinabe, Malian, and French authorities have announced.
Operation ‘Panga’ took place over a 2,500 km2 area in the border region between Mali and Burkina Faso. Several villages were searched for weapons and militants and a French soldier was killed during an ambush in the forest of Fhero on 5 April.
The French Defence Staff (EMA) said that Operation ‘Panga’ involved nearly 1,300 troops from the three countries, along with some 200 vehicles and 10 helicopters.