French President Emmanuel Macron has said that 33 terrorists had been neutralized in an operation by French forces in central Mali today. He said in a speech to the French community in Ivory Coast that French soldiers had also released two Malian gendarmes being held by Islamist extremists in the city of Mopti.<br />''<br />''Mr.Macron is visiting Ivory Coast to celebrate Christmas with French troops. Earlier, he said that Paris would work to give new force to the fight against Islamist terrorists in Africa's Sahel region.<br />''<br />''Last month, 13 French soldiers lost their lives in a helicopter crash in northern Mali as they were chasing terrorists.<br />''<br />