(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130112-allex-hmed-2p.photoblog600.jpg)Al-Kataib Media / MAXPPP via EPAThis undated TV grab of footage by Al-Kataib Media shows Denis Allex, a French agent held by Somali militants.By John Irish and Abdi Sheikh, ReutersUpdated at 3:40 p.m. ET: PARIS/MOGADISHU - A French intelligence officer held hostage in Somalia since 2009 was killed along with at least one other soldier during a botched rescue attempt by French troops on Friday night, the French Defense Ministry said Saturday.
Follow @NBCNewsWorld (https://twitter.com/NBCNewsWorld) "Commandos broke into where Allex was being detained last night and immediately faced strong resistance," Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters.
Another commando is missing.
The deaths in Somalia coincided with the killing of a pilot in air strikes in Mali (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/12/16478255-hollande-france-will-pursue-operations-to-oust-islamist-rebels-in-mali?lite), however, striking a double blow to the start of a campaign that represents President Francois Hollande's biggest foreign policy test since his May election.
NBCNews