DHAKA: Three French soldiers have died in Libya after their helicopter was shot down, President Francois Hollande says.

The soldiers were killed while carrying out ‘dangerous intelligence operations’, Hollande said, reports the BBC.

Earlier on Wednesday, French defense ministry spokesman Stephane Le Foll confirmed for the first time that its special forces were in Libya.

On Tuesday, the media quoted Libyan officials as saying an Islamist militia shot down a French helicopter.

The attack on Sunday happened near the city of Benghazi, and left no survivors.

Le Foll, in an interview with France Info radio on Wednesday, said French special forces were in Libya to ‘ensure that France is present everywhere in the fight against terrorism’.

BDST: 2144 HRS, JUL 20, 2016
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