French special forces rescued a Dutch national kidnapped nearly four years ago in northern Mali by AQIM Islamists in an operation that killed a number of suspected jihadists, officials said.
France's defence ministry said Dutch hostage Sjaak Rijke, kidnapped in Timbuktu in November 2011, was freed during "military action carried out by the French army's special forces."
"This combat action has also led to the capture of several individuals," added the ministry.
French President Francois Hollande also spoke of the operation, saying the freed hostage had been transported to a safe location and that a number of suspected jihadists had been killed.
He also signaled that French soldiers were not aware of the hostage's location before the raid against the extremists.