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Hagel: U.S. hostage ‘murdered’ in Yemen Hagel: U.S. hostage ‘murdered’ in Yemen
(about 1 hour later)
A U.S. journalist was killed by al-Qaeda militants during an attempt by U.S. forces to rescue the American from his captivity in Yemen, the Pentagon said on Saturday. Al-Qaeda terrorists in Yemen killed an American journalist after U.S. commandos staged another risky operation Friday to free the young man after his captors had threatened to execute him.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that U.S. special operations forces conducted the raid in central Yemen on Friday because the life of Luke Somers, the American journalist, appeared to be in “imminent danger.” In a statement, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that U.S. special operations forces conducted the raid in central Yemen because the life of Luke Somers, the American journalist, appeared to be in “imminent danger.”
“Both Mr. Somers and a second non-U.S. citizen hostage were murdered by the AQAP (al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) terrorists during the course of the operation,” Hagel said during a visit to Afghanistan. “On behalf of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces, I extend our condolences, thoughts, and prayers to their families and loved ones.”“Both Mr. Somers and a second non-U.S. citizen hostage were murdered by the AQAP (al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) terrorists during the course of the operation,” Hagel said during a visit to Afghanistan. “On behalf of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces, I extend our condolences, thoughts, and prayers to their families and loved ones.”
Somers, 33, was abducted in 2013 from the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Somers, 33, was abducted in September 2013 from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on a busy street near a supermarket. He had been working in the country as a freelance photojournalist.
Last month, U.S. special operations forces launched another raid aimed at freeing Somers, but he had been moved before the mission took place. A U.S. official confirmed that the second person killed by al-Qaeda during the rescue attempt was South African.
Last month, U.S. special operations forces launched another raid aimed at freeing Somers, but he had been moved shortly before the mission took place. In that raid, U.S. forces managed to free several Yemeni hostages.
According to the Associated Press, Somers’ sister said she was informed by the U.S. government that Somers was killed in the most recent rescue attempt.According to the Associated Press, Somers’ sister said she was informed by the U.S. government that Somers was killed in the most recent rescue attempt.
Hagel said that several members of al-Qaeda’s Yemeni branch were killed in Friday’s raid. The terrorist group said several of its fighters were killed during the first rescue operation in the eastern province of Hadramawt.
Hagel said that several members of al-Qaeda’s Yemeni branch were also killed in Friday’s raid.
Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen remains one of the group’s most powerful branches despite years of U.S. and Yemeni efforts to contain it.Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen remains one of the group’s most powerful branches despite years of U.S. and Yemeni efforts to contain it.
In a short video released earlier this week after the failed first raid that included footage of Somers, al-Qaeda in Yemen warned “Obama and the American government of the consequences of proceeding ahead in any other foolish action.”
The group said it would kill Somers on Saturday, according to the video.
The family also released a video after al-Qaeda made that statement, finally deciding to go public about their son’s kidnapping.
“He is a good person and he has only been trying to do good things for the Yemeni population. He goes out of his way to care for and respect the common person, and he has made many lasting friends in Yemen,” Somer’s brother said in the video. “Luke is only a photojournalist and he is not responsible for any action the U.S. government has taken. Please understand that we had no prior knowledge of the rescue attempt for Luke and we mean no harm to anyone.”
His mother also spoke, pleading for mercy.
“Give us an opportunity to see our Luke again. He is all that we have.”