On 2 March 2013 , it was reported that Mokhtar Belmokhtar , mastermind of the In Amenas hostage crisis in which 800 hostages had been taken and 39 Westerners killed at an Algerian oil refinery , had been killed as well . Chadian state television announced that " Chadian forces in Mali completely destroyed the main jihadist base in the Adrar de Ifhogas mountains ... killing several terrorists including leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar " , according to a BBC report . BBC correspondent Thomas Fessy said this would be a major blow if confirmed
In Amenas hostage crisis
In Amenas hostage crisis
Northern Mali conflict