French Forces killed more than 20 terrorists who were hiding in a forest near Mali border with Burkina Faso.
The operation followed after the death of a French soldier was reported nearby earlier in the month of April. The operation involved air and ground sorties according to a military statement.
Mali has been facing militancy challenge from Islamist terrorist group, despite a 2013 French-led operation to drive them out of key northern cities they had seized.
Mali authorities extended a state of emergency by six months this weekend.
France has deployed some 4,000 soldiers to fight Islamist militants in the region.
