On 1 July, French troops have lost two VBCI infantry fighting vehicles in the attack by militants with bomb-laden car.

A French military spokesman said there were no deaths among the French troops but the Malian defence ministry said at least two civilians were killed in the attack, which took place in the restive Gao region.

As a result of the terrorist attack, two French modern VBCI infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed. This is the first known loss of infantry fighting vehicle of this type.

The attack came as over 40 African heads of state are meeting for an African Union summit in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott with security high on the agenda.

The VBCI (Vehicule Blinde de Combat d’Infanterie) is one of the modern wheeled infantry fighting vehicles in the world. The VBCI is designed to replace the old tracked armoured infantry fighting vehicle AMX-10P, who is currently used by the mechanised units of the French Army.

French troops came under attack in the West African country of Mali. The attack took place in the capital city of Gao.#Mali #France pic.twitter.com/AzHoTbT7X6

— Press TV (@PressTV) 1 July 2018