SOMALIA:- Al Shabaab’s full statement on French troops attack

Bula-Marer (12/01/2013) – At around 0200 hours Saturday morning five French helicopters attacked a location in the town of Bula-Marer, around 30 km South of Marka in the Islamic Administration of Lower Shabeelle, in a botched rescue attempt aimed at releasing the French hostage Dennis Allex.

In a battle that lasted for about 45 minutes, the Mujahideen have, with the blessing of Allah alone, successfully foiled the attack and, after a fierce firefight, managed to repel the French forces that took part in the operation that was inevitably doomed to fail.

The helicopters attacked a house in Bula-Marer upon the assumption that Dennis Allex was being held at that location, but owing to a fatal intelligence blunder, the rescue mission turned disastrously wrong. Several French soldiers were killed in the battle and many more were injured before they fled from the scene of battle, leaving behind some military paraphernalia and even one of their comrades on the ground. The injured French soldier is now in the custody of the Mujahideen and Allex still remains safe and far from the location of the battle.

Despite the numerous warnings by the Mujahideen leaders, most recently Sheikh Mus’ab Abdul Wadud, that any attempt to forcibly rescue French hostages would result in disaster, yet Francois Hollande’s government heedlessly continues to plough on with the reckless policies of its predecessor.

The series of failed rescue attempts carried out by the French forces not only epitomise the French government’s distinct imprudence when it comes to dealing with hostages, but also clearly highlights its recurrent policy of continued disregard for the lives of its citizens. And instead of rescuing them, such ill-advised operations only further imperil the lives of the hostages. And in the end, it will be the French citizens who will inevitably taste the bitter consequences of their government’s devil-may-care attitude towards hostages.

As a response to this botched rescue operation by the French forces, Harakat Al-Shabaab Al-Mujahideen assures the French people that it will give its final verdict regarding the fate of Dennis Allex within two days.