Terrorism

Republicans accuse President Obama of failing to prevent a resurgence of al-Qaeda offshoots in northern Africa.

U.S. officials said Frederick Buttaccio, a Texan, was killed in the three-day hostage crisis in Algeria.

“The United States does not negotiate with terrorists,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said twice at her daily press briefing. 

The Defense secretary said the U.S. is working “around the clock” to ensure the safe return of hostages in Algeria.

Your morning global affairs speed-read

President Obama was bracing for bad news out of Algeria on Friday amid reports that American citizens could be among as many as 35 dead hostages after Algerian forces attacked Islamist militants who took over a remote natural-gas facility. The situation remained fluid as of Friday morning, with reports that Air Force planes were evacuating rescued Americans while surviving Islamists remained holed up with a handful of hostages. The Hill has the latest here.

The State Department has warned that the crisis in Mali could have spillover effects across the region. Meanwhile, The Associated Press reports that FBI Director Robert Mueller met with officials in Libya for an update on the stalled investigation into the Sept. 11, 2012, attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans at the U.S. mission in Benghazi.

In other news, don't miss Afghanistan Ambassador Eklil Hakimi's exclusive op-ed following last week's visit by President Hamid Karzai.

The situation in Algeria remains murky following air strikes that reportedly left some of the hostages and their captors dead.

The White House is seeking clarity on the situations; some leaders criticize Algeria's government.

The State Department is warning Americans across western Africa about the heightened risk of terrorism and kidnappings in the wake of a U.S.-backed French intervention in Mali and the related hostage crisis in Algeria.

Al Qaeda linked militants in Algeria say they're holding several people, including two Americans, hostage at a natural-gas plant near the Libyan border. They've threatened to execute them if France does not cease its operation to dislodge militants in northern Mali. 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has asked “that security in the entire region be reviewed in light of this,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Thursday. “That goes not only for official American security but also the messages that we're giving to American citizens and American businesses. So that's under way now.”

The comments come after the State Department issued a travel warning for Niger, Mali's eastern border, on Wednesday. The warning urges “extreme caution due to the military conflict in neighboring Mali and continued kidnapping threats against Westerners in Niger.”

It remains unclear if any Americans were killed when Algerian air forces attacked the holed-up militants Thursday. 

An Algerian security official says 20 foreign hostages, including some Americans, have escaped Islamic militants, the AP is reporting.