Eleven terrorists were killed Saturday during the final raid launched by Algerian military against the terrorist group entrenched in the gas complex of Tiguentourine In Amenas, Illizi, the state-run APS news agency reported Saturday.
The same source said that the terrorists killed 7 hostages without determining their nationalities.
The state media reported on Friday that Algerian military had succeeded in freeing more than 650 hostages, including foreign workers, from a gas facility seized by Islamist militants earlier this week.
The developments came after a group of heavily-armed militants stormed and occupied the Tigantourine gas facility at In Amenas, about 1,300 kilometer south-east of capital Algiers, early on Wednesday after killing a Briton and an Algerian. Their captives included British, Japanese, US, French and Norwegian nationals.
Subsequently, the Algerian military had launched an assault on the gas facility on Thursday with the aim of rescuing those held hostage by the militants.
The Tigantourine gas field is operated by the Algerian state oil company, Sonatrach, along with the British energy giant BP Plc. (BP, BP.L) and Norway's Statoil ASA (STO).
Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kabila had indicated that the kidnappers were Algerians operating under the orders of Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who broke up with the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb last year and set up his own armed group.
Nevertheless, reports differed on the motives behind the attack and hostage taking. While some said the militants had demanded the release of nearly 100 Islamist prisoners in Algeria, others claimed that the attackers wanted France to call off its military campaign in neighboring Mali. Incidentally, Algeria has allowed France to use its air space and bases for the ongoing military mission in Mali.
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com