Gazelle Downed in French Air Raid, Soldier Killed
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The air raid was supported by two Aerospatiale Gazelle helicopter gunships equipped with 20mm cannons and HOT missiles from the army's 4th combat helicopter regiment, which destroyed four enemy vehicles and forced the militants to retreat. It was unclear whether the Gazelles were equipped with the Viviane thermal imagery system.
One Gazelle helicopter was downed during the air raid, said Adm. Edouard Guillaud, chief of staff of France's armed forces, and Lt. Damien Boiteux, commander of the helicopter unit, was killed, though it was unclear whether Boiteux was aboard the downed rotorcraft.