Mauritanian authorities claimed its soldiers killed Bilal El-Djazaïri, Hamadou Abada’s deputy and a leading member of AQIM, during a raid on July 22 in which at least seven French Special Forces were killed. Spanish sources have reported that Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who currently holds two Spanish aid workers hostage, has moved them deeper into the Sahel to avoid any liberation attempts. Mauritania’s ruling party has pledged to join France in fighting AQIM.
