Failed French operation in Somalia(hostage killed along with two French soldiers)

[Papay]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20996963

Two French soldiers and a French hostage have been killed during a failed operation to free him in Somalia, the defence ministry says.
Commandos backed by helicopters reportedly swooped on the southern town of Bulo Marer during the night, targeting al-Shabab militants.
According to the defence ministry, the hostage was killed by his captors.
The raid in east Africa came hours after French troops intervened in the west African state of Mali.
The French military is believed to have been trying to free a French secret agent named as Denis Allex, who was kidnapped in Somalia in July 2009 along with a colleague, freed the following month.
It seems likely that the operation was linked to the intervention in Mali, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris.
The French government knew well the intervention would have dangerous implications for the nine French hostages being held across northern Africa, our correspondent says.


Bodies
Eyewitnesses in the town in the lower Shabelle region heard fighting during the night, then saw bodies this morning.
Up to four helicopters were involved in the operation, they said.
Mohamed Ali, a resident of Bulo Marer, told AP news agency by phone: "We heard a series of explosions followed by gunfire just seconds after a helicopter flew over the town.
"We don't know exactly what happened but the place was an al-Shabab base and checkpoint."
Another resident of the town, Idris Youssouf, told AFP that details were sketchy because the attack had happened at night.
"But this morning we saw several corpses including that of a white man," he added.
He said three civilians had also died in the fighting.
According to the French defence ministry, 17 militants were killed in the fighting.
Hostage appeal Of the other French hostages, at least six are being held by the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb group, AFP reports.
Mr Allex, reportedly an agent of France's DGSE intelligence service, appeared in a video in June 2010, appealing to France to drop its support for the Somali government.
He last appeared in another video in October, looking gaunt and calling on French President Francois Hollande to work for his release.
Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than two decades.
France has a large military base in neighbouring Djibouti, including army, marine and air force units.

What is it with France military lately.It seems its has become quite active

[DarthShizNit]

They've always been pretty active in Africa, so I wouldn't say anything is really up. And the French used to be the people it took all of Europe 20 years of war to stop, maybe some of those traits are starting to come back lol.

[Blau&Gruen]

... double post ...

[MathiasOfAthens]

The French have been involved in military operations around the world since the end of WWII... They have been involved with the muslim world longer than the US has. Hostage situations are always extremely risky to the hostages. Dont know how it went down but the two soldiers might of been escorting the hostages at the time and got ambushed... Idk but 17 terrorists are dead.

[don_Durandal]

Nothing new there. The only reason we heard about this is because the operation was botched and consequently the terrorists had something to brag about. It's just the tip of the iceberg regarding French intelligence, military and paramilitary activities in Africa and elsewhere (often with the blessing of their former colonies).
Just because some stupid teens like to repeat the same tired old jokes about the French Army over and over again doesn't mean you need to take the image seriously.

[Aymer de Valence]

And the French used to be the people it took all of Europe 20 years of war to stop, maybe some of those traits are starting to come back lol.

Not with failures like this

[Gaidin]

Not with failures like this

One operation is hardly a campaign.

[The Despondent Mind]

French should stick with the cooking and vine and let the real ing man do the ugly stuff

[MathiasOfAthens]

French should stick with the cooking and vine and let the real ing man do the ugly stuff

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Please... He is holding up some Israeli guns and shouting Murica, ing idiot.



Or lets see Norris try this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

the legs just get in the way.

[Col. Tartleton]

France has the most powerful military in the EU right?

[Azog 150]

France has been involved in more wars then any other country on earth since the end of WW2. Frances military has always been active, particularly in Africa. France never quite let go of its imperial mindset.

[hellheaven1987]

Ya, that is the job of French Foreign Legion, or why do you think French government wants to keep that unit?

[Aanker]

Hollande should be crowned Napoleon V and we can all be done with it.

[hellheaven1987]

Great, now what we need is Troisième Empire de Francais.

[Manuel I Komnenos]

What is it with France military lately.It seems its has become quite active

Nothing really. It's just that there's a significant number of French civilians living in African countries and that's why just like any other civilized nation, France attempts to protect her people. That's the reason for France's involvement in Mali as well.

[The Gurkhan]

It also really really likes diving in to defend lick-spittle former colonial possessions run by goons enamored of anything French.

Scratch that......you don't even have to have been run by France to get their special love. Simply speaking the language is enough.

In Mali they may hope their rescue of the government will lead to an improvement in their not as good as one would assume relations.

[sabaku_no_gaara]

Wow even france's military becomes less efficient with Hollande at the helm!



(I know it's not true, but I like to pin negative stuff on the fact that the parti socialiste is at the helm in France and it's Belgian puppet state)

[The Gurkhan]

That's something I'd like a bit of info on.

How are the Reds in France reacting to all this foreign adventurism? Since they have one of their own in the driving seat now.

[Darkhorse]

France has the most powerful military in the EU right?

Arguably these days, France has always run a close second in the EU in terms of military power and force projection, and defence pacts with the UK only strengthen both nations. I'm unsure of how cuts (if any) have effected the French military but I would presume they aren't as bad as the UK's. although in actuality the British military remains in a pretty good state following the cuts. Losses such as the Ark Royal were over-hyped (she was cut as the navy was once again the victim of a cross-service rivalry and not really to save money).

That's something I'd like a bit of info on.

How are the Reds in France reacting to all this foreign adventurism? Since they have one of their own in the driving seat now.

I heard on BBC News 24 today that the French are generally behind the Mali intervention and the recent botched operation in Somalia. The fact that there are French civilians that need protecting and freeing is something the French government have used to successful win the population around.

[don_Durandal]

There aren't many "reds" left in France. Something like 2-3% of the electorate.
"Socialists" are social democrats, not communists; or as they are known in France: "the caviar left". They are center-left opportunists with only loose or little ties with the working class.

Just a note: Hollande voluntarily did his military service when he was 20 (as lieutenant of engineers). The same can't be said of his predecessor Sarkozy, who had rather strained relations with the French Army (due to closing a number of bases, dissolving units and slashing through the army's budget).