The chief of the General Staff of the French army, Lecointre, confirmed that the two helicopters crashed in Mali on November 25 were not shot down by IS.

"The extremists never shot down our helicopters," French military chief of staff François Lecointre told Radio RFI today. Lecointre confirmed that two Barkhane anti-terrorist helicopters crashed in the Sahel region due to a collision during fighting with radical Islamic militants.

The evening of November 25 in the Sahel region, northern Mali, a country in West Africa, killed 13 French soldiers. Three-day proclamation of Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) claimed responsibility the following day, claiming the shooting down of two French military helicopters, but provided no evidence.

Lecointre also stated that France had no intention of withdrawing from Mali, but that they needed additional support from their allies. France has sent troops to Mali since 2013 to fight Islamic militants who have occupied the north of the country. France currently maintains Barkhane anti-terrorist force of 4,500 soldiers.

President Macron has asked NATO and its allies to increase support and asked the government to scrutinize French operations in the region. France said it could include all options but excludes the possibility of a withdrawal because of fears of instability are exacerbated.