Terrorism

The attack shows al Qaeda is "committed to creating terror" no matter where they are located, he said.

For months, congressional Republicans have been champing at the bit to press top administration officials on how they handled the aftermath of last September's terrorist assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. 

Algeria's prime minister said 37 foreigners were killed during a battle with terrorists who seized a natural-gas plant.

In a statement, the president expressed sympathy for the families of those who were killed or injured. 

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.