French army general denies IS brought down helicopters in Mali

Friday, 29 November 2019 12:54

The French army on Friday clarified that the IS terror group was not responsible for bringing down two of its helicopters in Mali this week.

It contradicts an earlier statement from the terror group.

"There has been no gunfire from (the terrorists) on our helicopters," French army chief of staff François Lecointre told French radio station RFI.

The army explained that the helicopters crashed after colliding accidentally during a combat operation.

Lecointre added that France had no intention of withdrawing from Mali but pressed for their allies to do more.

More from International news

Israeli strike kills one in Gaza as sides trade blame for truce violations

An Israeli airstrike killed a Palestinian man in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, health authorities said, as Israel and Hamas traded blame for daily violations of a fragile truce that has largely halted two years of war.
UK police say mass stabbing on train not terrorist incident, two arrested

British police said on Sunday that a knife attack on a train which put 11 people in hospital was not a terrorist incident, adding that two men - both British nationals - had been arrested.
Israel urges Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah under ceasefire terms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Hezbollah was seeking to rearm and that Israel would exercise its right to self-defence under last year's ceasefire accord if Lebanon failed to disarm the group.
Russian attacks on Ukraine kill two

Russian air attacks on Ukraine killed two people overnight and left tens of thousands more - and the entire eastern Donetsk region - without power, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives resumes food aid to Gaza
In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) has announced the resumption of food aid deliveries worth AED43 million to the Gaza Strip,
DoH launches Future Health Initiative
Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi (Future Health) has been launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH).
Salik to apply peak-hour toll rates for Dubai Ride
Toll gate operator Salik said it will charge peak-hour fees on Sunday, November 2, as the Dubai Fitness Challenge's first flagship event - Dubai Ride - gets underway.