Four French soldiers were killed and five injured by rebels in Kapisa province, eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, said the Elysee.
The last deadly attack against French troops was in January, also in the mountainous region of Kapisa, where four soldiers were killed.
France has lost 87 soldiers in Afghanistan since 2001. The regional police chief said a suicide bomber targeted a military convoy in the French district Nijrab. “I was informed of a suicide attack against French soldiers in Kapisa province,” said Abdul Rahman.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came just days after the visit of President Francois Hollande to the troops based in Nijrab on May 25th.
The Head of State has decided to withdraw some 3,400 French troops still stationed in Afghanistan from this year, two years before the date set by NATO.
After the new attack on Saturday, Francois Hollande will make a statement on Afghanistan at 15:00 (1300 GMT), said the press service of the Elysee.