French-Armenian soldier among three KIAs in Mali

13:38,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. A French-Armenian soldier identified as 23-year-old Dorian Issakhanian from the 1er Régiment de Chasseurs of the French Army is among the three French troops who were killed in action in Mali during the ongoing Operation Barkhane. They died after their armoured vehicle hit an IED in the Hombori area of Mali’s central Mopti province.

The Armenian Ambassador to France Hasmik Tolmajian offered condolences to the families of the three soldiers – Dorian Issakhanian, Tanerii Mauri and Quentin Pauchet.

“My tribute and condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers Dorian Issakhanian, Tanerii Mauri and Quentin Pauchet,” Tolmajian tweeted.

Monday’s deaths brought to 47 the number of French soldiers killed in Mali since France first intervened militarily in January 2013 in the anti-insurgent operation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS