French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited on Thursday French troops in northern Mali, where the military says they have killed 150 rebels over the past month.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited on Thursday French troops in northern Mali, where the military says they have killed 150 rebels over the past month.

My first feeling is one of pride," Le Drian said in a speech to around 250 French soldiers on a stop in the city of Gao before heading to the capital Bamako.

He praised the troops' “professionalism and courage” to the point of "giving your life", after a French soldier died on Wednesday, the fourth French death since the launch of the operation on January 11.

Le Drian also stressed that "the mission is not over... It is later that we will progressively withdraw to hand over to the African mission under the United Nations".