THREE French troops have been killed in eastern Libya in what President Francois Hollande claimed yesterday was a helicopter accident.

But local militant group the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) said they shot down the aircraft, killing four people — two Libyans and two foreigners.

Mr Hollande said the three soldiers were involved in a shadowy intelligence-gathering mission when their helicopter went down near al-Magrun, south of Benghazi, on Sunday.

“At this moment we are carrying out dangerous intelligence operations,” Mr Hollande said in a speech. “Three of our soldiers, who were involved in these operations, have been killed in a helicopter accident.”

Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had earlier confirmed the deaths of three officers “while on mission in Libya.”

France had previously said its warplanes were carrying out reconnaissance flights over the north African country.

But Paris has never confirmed reports that it has special forces on the ground in Libya, as claimed by the Le Monde daily and hinted at previously by UN envoy to Libya Martin Kobler.

Only last month, Mr Le Drian told parliament that France had been gathering intelligence in Libya “for some time.”
He ruled out the deployment of ground forces, saying at the time: “Our presence on the ground is not the right
solution.”

But French, British and US special forces are reported to have been “advising” the Benghazi government’s military forces, which have driven the BRB and other rebels out of the eastern city, for two years.

The BRB launched a new counterattack last month.

Libya has collapsed into anarchy since rebel forces backed by Nato air strikes overthrew the government and murdered veteran dictator Muammar Gadaffi.

The country is divided between two rival governments, in the capital Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi — the seat of the rebellion — with several other armed factions also controlling territory.

Western powers backed the Benghazi regime until earlier this year, when they installed the UN-founded, seven-member Government of National Accord in Tripoli.

Since then, Nato has become increasingly involved in fighting local Islamic State affiliates.