In a July 23 statement, France did not give details of the operation,
which took place on July 22. The military said France, which has a military
presence in Mauritania, provided non-combat support, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The French Army gave technical and logistical support to a Mauritanian
operation to prevent an attack by AQIM against Mauritania," the statement
said.
The French operation was said to have been part of an effort to release
a 78-year-old French hostage abducted by AQIM in April 2010. AQIM has
indicated that it would kill the hostage, Michel Germaneau, unless its
demands were met by July 27. The insurgency group has demanded the release
of Al Qaida prisoners in several North African states, including Mauritania.
"From the beginning, we have been fully mobilized to liberate our fellow
citizen," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.
For its part, Mauritania said six AQIM operatives were killed in the
French-planned raid. Mauritanian Interior Minister Mohammed Ould Boilil said
AQIM had planned to strike a military base in late July.
Boilil said the French-supported operation took place just outside
Mauritania and seized AQIM weapons, explosives and communications. He would
not elaborate, but diplomatic sources said the target appeared to be located
in northern Mali.
AQIM has sought to abduct Westerners as part of a policy to obtain
ransoms and the release of prisoners from such countries as Algeria, Mali
and Mauritania. The insurgency movement has also been holding captive two
Spanish aid workers, captured in Mauritania in November 2009.
"The terrorist group targeted by the Mauritanian Army is the one that
executed a British hostage a year ago and has refused to give proof of life
or engage in negotiations to release our compatriot Michel Germaneau," the
French Defense Ministry said.
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