Raid on Tabankort (2011)

Raid on Tabankort (2011)
Part of Islamist insurgency in the Sahel
Date January 8, 2011 Location near Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali Result Indecisive French and Nigerien forces fail to retrieve the hostages AQIM fails to hold the hostages
Belligerents
France Niger	AQIM
Strength
200 men 3 Cougar helicopters 1 C-160 1 Atlantique 2 ~20 men 2 pickups	6 men initially 5-10 reinforcements 2 vehicles
Casualties and losses
2 injured 3 killed, 3 injured	4 killed
2 hostages killed

On January 8, 2011, French and Nigerien commandos attempted to retrieve two French nationals taken hostage by AQIM militants in Niamey in Niger, and who were subsequently brought into the desert near Tabankort in Mali. Both hostages were killed during the botched rescue operation, along with three Nigerien soldiers and four kidnappers. The rescue operation's failure sparked controversy in France as it was reported that one of the hostages was killed by French gunfire.