French soldiers are pictured at the Operational Desert Platform Camp (PfOD) in Gao, Mali, on October 12, 2017, during Operation Barkhane. #

A French soldier mans a watchtower at the Relay Desert Platform Camp (PfDR) in Ansongo, Mali, on October 15, 2017, as part of Operation Barkhane. #

French soldiers play volleyball at the Operational Desert Platform Camp in Gao, Mali, on October 13, 2017. #

French armored vehicles stand at the Relay Desert Platform Camp in Ansongo, Mali, on October 15, 2017. #

French soldiers prepare their armored vehicles for a patrol in Ansongo, Mali, on October 15, 2017. #

French soldiers conduct a CIMIC (Civil-Military Cooperation) patrol during Operation Barkhane in Gao, Mali, on October 14, 2017. #

A French soldier greets a child as soldiers conduct a CIMIC patrol in Gao on October 14, 2017. #

Bottles filled with gasoline sit in a stand as French soldiers conduct a patrol in Gao on October 14, 2017. #

French soldiers conduct a patrol in Gao on October 14, 2017. #

French soldiers patrol in an armored vehicle during Operation Barkhane in Tassiga, Mali, on October 16, 2017. #

French soldiers from the 12th Armored Regiment patrol in armored vehicles in Inaloglog, Mali, on October 17, 2017. #

A French soldier from the 12th armored regiment talks with members of the Malian Armed Forces during Operation Barkhane in Inaloglog, Mali, on October 17, 2017. #

Members of the Malian Armed Forces secure a road in Inaloglog on October 17, 2017. #

French soldiers rest while on patrol in an armored vehicle in Tassiga, Mali, on October 16, 2017. #

An NH 90 Caiman military helicopter is brought in for a landing in Inaloglog on October 17, 2017. #

Members of a French military medical unit carry an injured soldier towards an NH 90 Caiman helicopter in Inaloglog on October 17, 2017. #

Troops from the Malian Armed Forces and French soldiers conduct a joint patrol in Inaloglog on October 17, 2017. #

Members of the Malian Armed Forces check identity papers during Operation Barkhane in Inaloglog on October 17, 2017. #

French soldiers check the IMEI number of a mobile phone on October 17, 2017. #

Troops from the Malian Armed Forces and French soldiers conduct a joint patrol on October 17, 2017. #

French soldiers install their tents for the night in Tin Hama, Mali, on October 18, 2017. #

French soldiers exercise at a transit camp in Tin Hama on October 19, 2017. #

A French soldier stands watch during a patrol in Tin Hama, Mali, on October 19, 2017. #

Members of a French military medical unit conduct an assistance operation in Inaloglog on October 18, 2017. #

Members of a French military medical unit use a portable ultrasound machine to examine a child in Tin Hama, Mali, on October 19, 2017. #

French soldiers from the 12th Armored Regiment secure a road during Operation Barkhane in Tin Hama on October 19, 2017. #

A Malian Armed Forces soldier is pictured near Tin Hama, Mali, on October 20, 2017. #

A French soldier of the 13th Engineer Regiment secures a Tuareg home near Tin Hama on October 20, 2017. #

French soldiers open a road near Tin Hama on October 20, 2017. #

A soldier of the Malian Armed Forces serves tea during Operation Barkhane in Tin Hama on October 19, 2017. #

A French Sud-Aviation SA330 Puma military helicopter flies over the region near Gao, Mali, on October 20, 2017. #

A French soldier from the 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment mans a machine gun in the door of a Puma military helicopter over Gao, Mali, on October 20, 2017. #