Algerian militants linked to ISIS say they will execute a French man they kidnapped Sunday unless France stops bombing the militant group in Iraq.
In a scene all too familiar to the U.S. and western European nations, a video surfaced showing 55-year-old Hervé Gourdel and armed militants.
In the video, Gourdel — who was hiking in northeastern Algeria when he was kidnapped — pleads with French President Francois Hollande "to not intervene in Iraq" or his captors will kill him. Newsy has chosen not to show that footage.
In the video, Gourdel says the militant group that kidnapped him is the Jund al-Khilifa — also known as the "Soldiers of the Caliphate in Algeria." According to France 24, the group broke away from Al Qaeda earlier this month and swore allegiance to ISIS.
The French Foreign Ministry has confirmed the video's authenticity, and Hollande said France is trying to get Gourdel back.
FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANE: "Everything is being done in close cooperation with the Algerian authorities to obtain the release of our compatriot but we must not hide the fact that the situation is extremely critical."
As far as ISIS goes, the group has made a pattern of kidnapping people and demanding governments either pay ransoms or stop military campaigns against ISIS in exchange for a release.
Just in the past few months, Islamic militants have killed two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, along with British aid worker David Haines in similar abductions.
That's why the international community was a bit confused when ISIS also released nearly 50 Turkish men, women and children over the weekend. While the Turkish government says it didn't pay a ransom or make any promises for their release, some question whether there's more to that story. (Video via CBS & Al Jazeera)
Thus far, ISIS' threats have not deterred the military actions of either U.S. or France. France joined the U.S. in conducting airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq late last week. The United States also extended that campaign into Syria on Monday.
