did reverse what otherwise looks like was going to be a complete take over of that country and they took back timbuktu and they took back all the territory radical groups had been controlling. in terms of geographic control, that french assault in 2013, it works. but it s never that simple. while that successful military campaign was underway, one of these terrorist groups launched a horrific terrorist attack right next door to mali in aljeeria. you probably remember because of the scale of the attack. the same month the french military assault is happening. what they attacked was a remote, gas processing facility and it
aljeeria. you probably remember because of the scale of the attack. the same month the french military assault is happening. what hthey attacked was a remot, gas processing facility and it was apparently way too lightly protected and full of westerners and other international civilgens who they found were easy to take hostage. and now to another big and still developing story tonight, americans citizens among dozens of people taken hostage in algeria and it s right next door to mali where incidentally, french war planes have been bombing for daysdays. and nbc is the only correspondent on the ground. good evening.
military assault is happening, 2013, january, what they attacked was a remote but big international gas facility. gas processing facility. it was apparently way too lightly protected and full of westerners and other international civilians who these terrorist groups were found easy to take hostage. now to another big and still developing story tonight, american citizens among perhaps dozens of those taken hostage in algeria in northern africa. right next door to mali with not coincidentally french warplanes have been pounding militant for days. tonight, the u.s. state department has strongly condemned this hostage taking calling it a terrorist attack. nbc has the only network correspondent on the ground. good evening. reporter: brian, algerian officials say that the hostages were taken by heavily armed islamic militants linked to al qaeda and they were responding