Retreating Islamists Still Holding Seven French Hostages in Mali

Complicating matters for the French, who are looking to hand over the operation to an African force

French fighter jets bombed Islamist militant bases in northern Mali on Monday in a drive to disrupt supply routes and flush out combatants in hiding. Yet operations have been complicated by the fact that it is believed the retreating Islamists are holding seven French hostages who were originally kidnapped in Mali and Niger in 2011 and 2012.