Officials: Hostage in Somalia killed in rescue attempt

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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  "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, 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.

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