PARIS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- A French military doctor was killed when his armored vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device on Tuesday during an operation against Islamist insurgents in Mali, President Emmanuel Macron's office said in a statement.

Macron expressed "profound respect for the sacrifice of this French officer, dead during the achievement of his mission".

Macron also sent condolences to the victim's family and friends, reiterating "the full solidarity of the Nation in these painful circumstances".

France had launched its military offensive in Mali in 2013 to help ousting militants, who had seized control of the country's northern region a year earlier.

With the support of African countries, Paris has deployed around 4,500 French troops in West Africa's Sahel region as part of Operation Barkhane to combat extremist insurgents in the area. Enditem

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