source: RFI; Sidwaya; Infowakat; AIB (Burkina Faso); Xinhua
actor1: Military Forces of France (2017-)
actor2: JNIM: Group for Support of Islam and Muslims and/or Islamic State (West Africa) - Greater Sahara Faction
location: Boulel
notes: On May 9, French forces of Operation Barkhane and Sabre conducted a hostage release operation 70km north of Djibo not far from Boulkessi, but on the Burkinabe side of the border (coded as Boulel, approximate location at geoprecision 2), four suspected JNIM and/or ISGS militants and two French soldiers were killed amidst the operation. Four hostages were liberated including two French, one American, and one South Korean. The U.S. contributed with intelligence support and Burkinabe forces provided logistics.