The new operation, dubbed Barkhan, will start in the coming days together with five countries – Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad – in the Sahel-Sahara region, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Sunday in a television interview.

The operation aimed at combating extremist violence would consist of around 3,000 French soldiers, 1,000 of whom would stay based in northern Mali and the rest deployed to the other four countries.

Le Drian said that drones, helicopters and fighter jets would be used.

„The president wanted a reorganisation of our troops in the (Sahel) zone,“ Le Drian said.