'The precise and determined actions of French soldiers allowed us to take out the kidnappers while protecting the lives of the hostages.'
A spokeswoman for the US state department said the United States was grateful for the successful recovery of the hostages, including a US citizen, and offered condolences to the families of the two solders killed.
The region has seen a spike in violence by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in past years, highlighting the difficulty international partners face in restoring stability.Burkina Faso's president Roch Kabore hailed the hostages' release and offered condolences to the soldiers' families. The French government had warned its citizens against travelling to parts of Benin near the Burkina Faso border because of the risk of kidnapping.
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