Algeria Crisis

Algeria’s military launched a raid Thursday to free about 40 foreigners held by militants at a remote natural-gas complex—leaving some hostages dead, surprising and 

angering several governments and putting leaders across the world at a loss to determine the fate of their citizens.

The U.S., U.K. and Japan, whose nationals were among those held, said they had urged the Algerians not to resort to force to free the hostages, who were taken Wednesday by militants with suspected ties to al Qaeda’s regional affiliate. The U.S. and U.K. received no warning that the raid was beginning, officials from the countries said.