France will replace its military mission in Mali with an expanded counterterrorism operation across the Sahel region, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced on 13 July. This move will give France a substantial military presence across North Africa. France currently has about 1,700 troops stationed in Mali as part of Operation "Serval." This operation will be replaced with Operation "Barkhan," which station 3,000 soldiers in Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso, supported by six fighter jets, three drones and 20 helicopters. 1,000 soldiers will remain in Mali. The 3,000 count does not include 2,000 French soldiers in the Central African Republic, nor does it include France's 450-strong presence in the Ivory Coast, which will be increased to 800 starting next year.
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机译：国防部长让·伊夫·勒·德里安（Jean-Yves Le Drian）7月13日宣布，法国将以在萨赫勒地区扩大的反恐行动取代在马里的军事任务。此举将使法国在北非拥有实质性的军事存在。作为“军人”行动的一部分，法国目前在马里约有1700名士兵。该行动将由“巴尔汉”行动取代，该行动在马里，尼日尔，乍得和布基纳法索驻扎3000名士兵，并由六架战斗机，三架无人机和20架直升机提供支持。一千名士兵将留在马里。 3,000名士兵不包括在中非共和国的2,000名法国士兵，也不包括法国在象牙海岸拥有450人的部队，从明年开始将增加到800名。
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