Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Panetta blasts hostage situation in Algeria

Details

  • Description

    How will U.S. respond to Americans being held?

  • Duration 2:00
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Latest World

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Thank you now let's find out what the American military is doing about all this national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin is -- at the Pentagon Jennifer.

I guess Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was asked about the Americans taken hostage in Algeria.

While he was in Rome today would he say about.

Well he was very quick to call it an act of terrorism here's what he said quote by all indications this is a terrorist act.

And the United States strongly condemns these kinds of terrorists acts it is a very serious matter what Americans are taken hostage along with others.

And I want to assure the American people that the United States will take all necessary and proper steps that are required to deal with this situation.

It seems -- administration learned its lesson from being gutsy.

So far no US assets have been moved in to help but unlike last September when the US -- -- consulate was attacked.

Now Africa has its own commanders in extranet sports -- -- force assigned to -- a group of several dozen.

Special operators just for these situations I'm told they are standing by awaiting the president's orders and -- And -- we heard and Greg's report the group claiming responsibility is headed by this Algerian born G hobbyists.

What more can we.

Do we know about him and his connection to this Molly operation.

Well they call on the tar Belmont -- he's in his forties he lost an eye fighting in Afghanistan.

The French have been watching him for some time they call him mr.

Maher -- because it's he finances.

His al-Qaeda weighing by smuggling cigarettes and diamonds -- are split from.

Al-Qaeda in the -- grabbed known -- -- Q I am back in October.

He then formed a splinter group called the masked ones which he claimed was one of the first al-Qaeda groups to go to Molly.

Two help in the hands them rebels there.

And then he moved over to Algeria with this group who have taken hostages he has a group of Algerian a Mauritanian fighters who -- who are behind -- -- spot in Libya and the past record will follow this and head back for any breaking news Jennifer thank you.

Load More