PARIS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- French Presidency on Tuesday confirmed the death of a national serviceman in northern Mali, bringing the French death toll in the conflict-torn country to nine since French forces started a military operation in January 2013.
French President Francois Hollande "was profoundly saddened by the news of (the) death" of one more French soldier in a reconnaissance operation in northern Mali.
Hollande reiterated that French soldiers working alongside the Malian army and the UN forces had succeeded "with courage and efficiency" in their mission to ensure Mali's sovereignty in the face of terrorists' threats.
The head of state also sent his condolences to the soldier's family and friends, stressing "the country's solidarity with them at this painful time."
In the previous year, France launched a military operation in the West African country and had poured 4,000 soldiers into its former colony to help local authorities to oust Islamist rebels and restore security.
