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Hagel: U.S. hostage ‘murdered’ in Yemen Hagel: U.S. hostage ‘murdered’ in Yemen
(about 1 hour later)
An American journalist was killed by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen during an attempt by U.S. forces to rescue him from captivity, the Pentagon said Saturday. Another hostage, a South African, also perished.An American journalist was killed by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen during an attempt by U.S. forces to rescue him from captivity, the Pentagon said Saturday. Another hostage, a South African, also perished.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said 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.”In a statement, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said 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 al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) 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 al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) 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.”
The second person killed by al-Qaeda during the rescue attempt was a South African being held hostage, according to a U.S. official. The second person killed by al-Qaeda during the rescue attempt was a South African being held hostage, according to U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the raid were secret.
Both hostages were attacked by militants as the rescuers arrived. When rescuers entered the building where they were being held, both were still alive, according to a senior administration official. They were put on a V-22 Osprey and evacuated to a waiting U.S. Navy ship. One died en route, and the other on the operating table aboard the ship. A South African disaster relief organization, Gift of the Givers Foundation, said the other hostage was Pierre Korkie. The foundation was working to free him.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because details of the raid were secret, said that the rescue attempt, which President Obama approved Friday morning, took place at approximately 5 p.m. Friday, Washington time. Korkie, who had been working as a teacher in Yemen, and his wife, Yolande, were abducted in May 2013. Yolande Korkie was released from captivity in January, according to a post on the foundation’s Web site. The post also claimed AQAP had agreed to release Pierre Korkie on Sunday.
Both hostages were attacked by militants as the rescuers arrived, U.S. officials said. When rescuers entered the building where they were being held, both were still alive, according to a senior administration official. They were put on a V-22 Osprey and evacuated to a waiting U.S. Navy ship. One died en route, and the other on the operating table aboard the ship.
The official said that the rescue attempt, which President Obama approved Friday morning, took place at approximately 5 p.m. Friday, Washington time.
The timing of the missions was based on the video threat from AQAP, saying that Somers would be killed within 72 hours, a window U.S. intelligence assessed would close on Saturday. A Special Operations team developed an operational plan, including assessments of the risks involved, based in part on information gathered during the previous, unsuccessful rescue attempt.The timing of the missions was based on the video threat from AQAP, saying that Somers would be killed within 72 hours, a window U.S. intelligence assessed would close on Saturday. A Special Operations team developed an operational plan, including assessments of the risks involved, based in part on information gathered during the previous, unsuccessful rescue attempt.
The hostages were being held in a compound of buildings in Yemen’s Shabwah governorate, a remote and rugged region bordering the Gulf of Aden on Yemen’s southern coast. The hostages were being held in a compound of buildings in Yemen’s Shabwah governorate, a remote region with “hilly, scrubby” and “rough terrain,” bordering the Gulf of Aden on Yemen’s southern coast, officials said.
As U.S. forces — traveling in helicopters — approached the compound, “they lost the element of surprise,” the official said. A firefight with the militants began immediately as they touched down. As the team of about 40 special operation forces approached the compound, about 100 yards out “they lost the element of surprise,” a defense official said. A firefight with the militants began immediately as they touched down. The official did not know how the team, which had approached the compound from a landing zone about six miles away, was spotted.
With overhead surveillance that was maintained throughout the rescue attempt, one militant was seen going into the building where Somers was known to be held. The militant stayed “for about a five to seven count . . . long enough of course to shoot people or take any other action. We didn’t have visibility inside,” the official said. Because of the direction of fire, the official said they were nearly 100 percent sure that Somers and the other hostage were shot nearly immediately” by the AQAP militants.
By the time the U.S. team was able to reach the building, “the terrorist had already fled.” Inside, the team found two hostages, both grievously wounded. “They put them on the helicopters. One perished on the way” to the ship, “the other on the operating table once they got to the ship.” With overhead surveillance that was maintained throughout the rescue attempt, one militant was seen going into the building where Somers was known to be held, the administration official said. The militant stayed “for about a five to seven count . . . long enough of course to shoot people or take any other action. We didn’t have visibility inside.”
By the time the U.S. team was able to reach the building, “the terrorist had already fled.”
The defense official said five AQAP militants had been killed in the firefight. None were captured.
Inside, the team found two hostages, both grievously wounded, the senior administration official said. The hostages were evacuated by aircraft. “One perished on the way” to the ship, “the other on the operating table once they got to the ship.”
The official declined to specify which hostage reached the ship alive or how they were injured, saying “we’re not going to get into specifics, because of the families.”The official declined to specify which hostage reached the ship alive or how they were injured, saying “we’re not going to get into specifics, because of the families.”
During the firefight outside the building and with overhead surveillance after the fact, initial assessments were that six militants were killed in the firefight. “We observed them moving bodies out of there,” the official said. The U.S. forces were not on the ground more than 30 minutes, said the official, who described it as “a quick fight.”
U.S. forces were not on the ground more than 30 minutes, said the official, who described it as “a quick fight.” Initial reports indicated there were no casualties among the U.S. forces. The official declined to specify how many aircraft or how many U.S. forces were involved or their units, beyond saying they Special Operations forces from the USS Makin Island. Officials declined to say where the ship was located, beyond that it was “in close proximity to Yemen.”
Initial reports indicated there were no casualties among the U.S. forces. The official declined to specify how many aircraft or U.S. forces were involved or their units, beyond saying they Special Operations forces from the USS Makin. Officials declined to say where the ship was located, beyond that it was “in close proximity to Yemen.”
The official said that the Yemeni government was informed prior to the rescue attempt, but that no Yemeni forces had taken part. Yemeni special forces had participated in the earlier attempt to rescue Somers.The official said that the Yemeni government was informed prior to the rescue attempt, but that no Yemeni forces had taken part. Yemeni special forces had participated in the earlier attempt to rescue Somers.
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.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.
“I offer my deepest condolences to Luke’s family and to his loved ones,” Obama said. “I also offer my thoughts and prayers to the family of a non-U.S. citizen hostage who was also murdered by these terrorists during the rescue operation. Their despair and sorrow at this time are beyond words.”“I offer my deepest condolences to Luke’s family and to his loved ones,” Obama said. “I also offer my thoughts and prayers to the family of a non-U.S. citizen hostage who was also murdered by these terrorists during the rescue operation. Their despair and sorrow at this time are beyond words.”
Last month, U.S. special operations forces launched a 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. Last month, U.S. special operations forces launched a 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. The terrorist group said several of its fighters were killed during the first rescue operation in the eastern province of Hadramawt.
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.”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 group said it would kill Somers on Saturday, according to the video.
Somers’s family also released a video after al-Qaeda made that statement, finally deciding to go public about their son’s kidnapping.Somers’s 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,” Somers’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.”“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,” Somers’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.His mother also spoke, pleading for mercy.
“Give us an opportunity to see our Luke again. He is all that we have.”“Give us an opportunity to see our Luke again. He is all that we have.”
Ryan reported from Kabul.