Belmoktar has long been a target of French counter-terrorism forces . `` Belmokhtar likely wants to show he is still engaged in active operations and he is not moving away from the fighting - especially at a time when other Jihadists are in active combat against French troops in Mali , '' he said . The Algerian militant was killed in an air strike on his hideout by the French military last week. Belmoktar earns the nickname `` Belaouar '' -- the `` one-eyed '' -- after a battlefield injury . He allegedly is involved in smuggling drugs , weapon and people .
Belmoktar has long been a target of French counter-terrorism forces . The Algerian militant was killed in an air strike on his hideout by the French military last week. Belmoktar earns the nickname `` Belaouar '' -- the `` one-eyed '' -- after a battlefield injury . He allegedly is involved in smuggling drugs , weapon and people .