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Al-Qaida’s Yemeni affiliate threatens to kill US hostage Luke Somers Al-Qaida’s Yemeni affiliate threatens to kill US hostage Luke Somers
(about 7 hours later)
Al-Qaida’s affiliate in Yemen has threatened to kill an American hostage kidnapped over a year ago and has given the US three days to meet its demands. Al-Qaida’s affiliate in Yemen has threatened to kill an American hostage who was kidnapped over a year ago but not located in a recent US special forces rescue operation, giving Washington three days to meet its demands, which have not been made public.
The Site Intelligence Group said it had obtained a video by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (Aqap) featuring the hostage, identified as Luke Somers, a 33-year-old American photojournalist who was born in Britain. The Site intelligence group said it had obtained a video by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (Aqap) featuring Luke Somers, a 33-year-old British-born American photojournalist. Somers was kidnapped in September 2013 in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, where he had worked as a photojournalist for the Yemen Times.
Somers was kidnapped in September 2013 in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, where he had worked as a photojournalist for the Yemen Times. The US confirmed for the first time on Thursday that Somers was one of a group of hostages who were the objective of a joint rescue mission by US special forces and Yemeni troops last month. That mission freed eight captives.
It is likely Somers was one of a group of hostages who were the objective of a joint rescue mission by US special forces and Yemeni troops last month that freed eight captives in remote Hadramaut province. “As soon as the US government had reliable intelligence and an operational plan, the president authorised the Department of Defense to conduct an operation to recover Mr Somers,” Bernadette Meehan, the National Security Council (NSC) spokeswoman, said in a statement.
At the time, a Yemeni official said the mission had failed to liberate five others, including an American journalist and an unnamed Briton who were moved elsewhere by their al-Qaida captors days before the raid. The American was not identified and Yemen did not officially confirm the participation of US commandos in the rescue mission – a rare instance of US forces operating on the ground in Yemen. The NSC made no reference to an unnamed British hostage who was said by a Yemeni official at the time to have been moved by al-Qaida along with the US journalist. The raid was a rare instance of US forces operating on the ground in Yemen.
The three-minute video released by Site shows a local al-Qaida figure, Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, reading from a script in classical Arabic and speaking about “decades of American crimes” against the Muslim world, including its “unqualified support for the Zionist occupation of Palestine” as well as massacres in Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq. Al-Ansi gives the US three days to meet al-Qaida’s demands or “otherwise the American hostage held by us will meet his inevitable fate”. He does not spell out the demands but says Washington is well aware of them. The three-minute video released by Site shows a local al-Qaida figure, Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, reading from a script in classical Arabic and speaking of “decades of American crimes” against the Muslim world, including its “unqualified support for the Zionist occupation of Palestine” as well as massacres in Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq. Al-Ansi gives the US three days to meet al-Qaida’s demands, “otherwise the American hostage held by us will meet his inevitable fate”. He does not spell out the demands but says that Washington is well aware of them.
Ansi also mentioned a “failed operation” in Hadramaut that left fighters dead. He described it as the “latest foolish action” by the US . Ansi also mentioned a “failed operation” in Hadramaut that left fighters dead and and described it as the “latest foolish action” by the US.
Then Somers is shown, wearing glasses and a purple shirt, appearing calm as he addresses the camera to give a brief statement in English. Then Somers is shown, wearing glasses and a purple shirt, appearing calm as he addresses the camera to give a brief statement in English. “It’s now been well over a year since I’ve been kidnapped in Sana’a,” Somers says. “Basically, I’m looking for any help that can get me out of this situation. I’m certain that my life is in danger. If anything can be done, please let it be done.”
“It’s now been well over a year since I’ve been kidnapped in Sana’a,” Somers says. “Basically, I’m looking for any help that can get me out of this situation. I’m certain that my life is in danger. If anything can be done, please let it be done.” The NSC statement said of the rescue mission: “The details of the operation remain classified. The overriding concern for Mr Somers’ safety and the safety of the US forces who undertake these missions made it imperative that we not disclose information related to Mr Somers’ captivity and the attempted rescue. The Department of Defense is acknowledging the fact of the operation now in order to provide accurate information given that it is being widely reported in the public domain.”
Mohammed Albasha, spokesman for the Yemeni embassy in Washington, said: “[The] government of Yemen is doing its utmost, and is coordinating efforts with regional and international partners to secure the safe release of hostages in accordance with relevant international standards.”
Aqap is regarded by the US as one of the deadliest offshoots of al-Qaida, though it does not routinely kill its hostages. The group began life in Saudi Arabia, but was defeated in a long counter-terrorist campaign and has been based in eastern Yemen for the past five years. It has built up support amid the unrest that has beset the impoverished country since the overthrow of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the Arab spring protests in 2011. Yemen is also facing a profound political crisis triggered by the advance of Houthi rebels.Aqap is regarded by the US as one of the deadliest offshoots of al-Qaida, though it does not routinely kill its hostages. The group began life in Saudi Arabia, but was defeated in a long counter-terrorist campaign and has been based in eastern Yemen for the past five years. It has built up support amid the unrest that has beset the impoverished country since the overthrow of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the Arab spring protests in 2011. Yemen is also facing a profound political crisis triggered by the advance of Houthi rebels.
Dozens of US drone strikes targeting suspected terrorist targets have caused anger in Yemen due to civilian casualties critics say only fuels support for Aqap. Dozens of US drone strikes have caused anger in Yemen due to civilian casualties, with critics saying the strikes only fuel support for Aqap.
The group, a priority for the US and UK intelligence agencies, has managed to smuggle explosives on to passenger aircraft, including in the 2009 Christmas day plot to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight over Chicago. Aqap boasts a highly skilled bomb-maker called Ibrahim al-Asiri.The group, a priority for the US and UK intelligence agencies, has managed to smuggle explosives on to passenger aircraft, including in the 2009 Christmas day plot to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight over Chicago. Aqap boasts a highly skilled bomb-maker called Ibrahim al-Asiri.
The Pentagon spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said: “The US government is committed to the safety and wellbeing of its citizens, particularly those suffering in captivity. We use the full breadth of our military, intelligence, law enforcement, and diplomatic capabilities to bring people home whenever we can. The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will work tirelessly to secure the safety of our citizens and to hold their captors accountable.”