On July 8th, the British Ministry of Defence announced its Chinhook helicopters will continue their mission in Mali. The extension of the operational engagement of the Chinhooks aims at supporting France in the Barkhane operation. The aircraft and the associated staff (a hundred of servicemen) will stay in Mali for a minimum of six further weeks. They joint the theater as of 2018.

The British Ministry of Defence stated: “The UK’s helicopters bring a unique logistical capability to the operation, allowing French ground forces to operate more effectively across the Sahel including in Niger and Burkina Faso.”