French authorities cautious about the killing of Abu Zeid

The French government’s spokesperson Nadjet Valau Belkacem has asserted that there wasn’t any conformation about the killing of Abdelhamid Abu Zeid, one of the leading figures of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, during a military operation in Mali.

Talking yesterday to the French public channel “ France 2”, she has indicated that  the French forces are taking part to tough military operations in the Malian soil .

Meanwhile, the French military command has hinted to the death of Abu Zeid during air strikes carried out last Saturday in addition to 40 other terrorists. Sources close to the French military command operating inn Mali have indicated that a prominent Al Qaeda leader was killed in an air strike carried out in the northern parts of the country.

Abu Zeid, the deputy leader of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, is thought to be involved in the abduction of 12 foreigners with the view to asking a ransom, two of them died and another number of French hostages are still sequestrated.

The news released by the sources corroborate those revealed by “Radio France” reporting that the French forces met tough resistance last Saturday noting that one of killed terrorists could be the Abu Zeid.

Should the killing of Abu Zeid is confirmed, it would be a heavy loss for Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb especially that the Algerian forces have eliminated Mokhtar Belmokhtar, one of the prominent leaders in the terrorist organization, during the latest attack on the gas facility of Tiguentourine.