Mogadishu: At least eight civilians were killed during France’s failed attempt to free a hostage in Somalia, witnesses said on Sunday, adding to prior reported death tolls.
“Four civilians, including three from one family, are among the dead. They were all killed outside Bulomarer, where the French commandos landed before entering the city,” resident Adan Derow said by telephone.
“We don’t know why those civilians were killed” outside Bulomarer, where the raid took place on Saturday, added another resident, Ali Moalim Hassan.
“Four other civilians were also caught in the crossfire and died in the town of Bulomarer,” during a pitched battle between French commandos and Islamist fighters.
On Saturday, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that one French soldier died and another went missing during the raid, adding that 17 guerrillas were killed.
He said “all indications” point to the conclusion that the hostage, a French intelligence agent with the alias of Denis Allex, had been killed by his captors belonging to Al Shabab, a Somali Islamist group affiliated with Al Qaida.
But Al Shebab denied that Allex was dead and said they were holding the missing French commando.
Le Drian said on Sunday that French troops underestimated the Islamist rebels’ strength when they launched the overnight operation. It involved some 50 troops and at least five helicopters.
