RIP US hostage Luke Somers and SA Pierre Korkie killed during Yemen rescue bid

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US journalist Luke Somers and another man held by al-Qaeda in Yemen have been killed by militants during a rescue attempt by US special forces.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the hostages were "murdered by... terrorists during the mission".
He said there were "compelling reasons" to believe that Mr Somers's life was in danger.
The second hostage has been named by a charity as South African teacher Pierre Korkie.
AQAP is regarded by the US as one of the deadliest offshoots of al-Qaeda.
The group is based in eastern Yemen and has built up support amid the unrest which has beset the impoverished country since the overthrow of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2011.

 

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Plea to mourn


Mr Hagel said a number of militants were also killed in the operation in Shabwa province.

"US Special Operations Forces conducted a mission in Yemen to rescue a US citizen, Luke Somers, and any other foreign nationals held hostage with him by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) terrorists," he said in a statement released during a visit to Kabul.


"Both Mr Somers and a second non-US citizen hostage were murdered by the AQAP terrorists during the course of the operation."
A US official told the New York Times that Mr Somers, 33, was apparently shot by his captors as the raid unfolded and was badly wounded when the US forces reached him.



By the time he was flown to a US naval ship in the region, he had died from his injuries, the official was quoted as saying.
Mr Somer's sister, Lucy Somers, told the Associated Press earlier that she had been notified by the FBI of his death.


"We ask that all of Luke's family members be allowed to mourn in peace," Lucy Somers told AP, speaking from London.


"We received with sadness the news that Pierre was killed in an attempt by American Special Forces, in the early hours of this morning, to free hostages in Yemen," the charity Gift of the Givers said in a statement.


Mr Somers, who was kidnapped in Yemen in 2013, appeared in a video this week appealing for help.


The footage showed a member of AQAP threatening to kill him unless unspecified demands were met.


Mr Somers worked as a journalist and photographer for local news organisations. His material appeared on international news outlets,including the BBC News website.


He was kidnapped outside a supermarket in the Yemeni capital Sana'a in September 2013 and is believed to have been sold on to al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP).



Another attempt to rescue Mr Somers last month had failed.

 

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President Obama released a statement on the rescue operation.

"As this and previous hostage rescue operations demonstrate, the United States will spare no effort to use all of its military, intelligence, and diplomatic capabilities to bring Americans home safely, wherever they are located. And terrorists who seek to harm our citizens will feel the long arm of American justice," Obama said.

"Earlier this week, a video released by his terrorist captors announced that Luke would be killed within 72 hours. Other information also indicated that Luke's life was in imminent danger. Based on this assessment, and as soon as there was reliable intelligence and an operational plan, I authorized a rescue attempt yesterday, " the president said.

 

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Luke Somers, 33, an American photojournalist who was kidnapped over a year ago by al-Qaeda, poses for a picture during a parade marking the second anniversary of the revolution in Sanaa, Yemen, in February last year.(Photo: Hani Mohammed, AP)


Luke Somers, 33, an American photojournalist who was kidnapped over a year ago by al-Qaeda, poses for a picture during a parade marking the second anniversary of the revolution in Sanaa, Yemen, in February last year.(Photo: Hani Mohammed, AP

 

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[h=3]MURDERED SOUTH AFRICAN TEACHER 'WAS BEING RELEASED TOMORROW'[/h]South African Pierre Korkie was killed in the attempted rescue mission by the United States - just a day before he was due to be released, an aid group says.
Mr Korkie was killed in the failed effort to release hostages, Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers group told the South African Press Agency.
Korkie was to be freed by al-Qaida on Sunday, Gift of the Givers said on Twitter.

South African Pierre Korkie was killed in the attempted rescue mission by the United States - just a day before he was due to be released

'Leaders met in Aden this morning, preparing final security and logistical arrangements 2 bring Pierre 2 safety & freedom,' said tweeted the aid group.
Mr Korkie and his wife Yolande were taken hostage in Taiz, Yemen, in May 2013, the charity said.
A team had met in Aden this morning, preparing final security and logistical arrangements 2 bring the hostage to freedom, it claimed.
'It is even more tragic that the words we used in a conversation with Yolande at 5.59 this morning was "the wait is almost over",' the charity tweeted to its 7,500 followers.
It added: 'All logistical arrangements were in place 2 safely fly Pierre out of Yemen under diplomatic cover.'
At the time of the kidnapping, Mr Korkie was a teacher in Yemen, while his wife was working in hospitals, News24 reports.

 

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Nasser bin Ali al Ansi, senior official in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, pictured, spoke for two minutes and thirty seconds during the video where he threatened to kill Mr Somers within three days

 

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Begging for mercy: Luke's brother, Jordan (left), and his mother, Paula Somers (right), released a video on Thursday asking his al-Qaeda captors to release him

 

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Hillary Clinton is taking heat for saying America should “empathize” and show “respect” for its enemies.
The former secretary of State, who is considered a likely 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, made the remarks during a speech Wednesday at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Touting an approach she calls “smart power,” Clinton urged America to use “every possible tool and partner” to advance peace.
This, she said, includes “leaving no one on the sidelines, showing respect even for one’s enemies, trying to understand and insofar as psychologically possible, empathize with their perspective and point of view.”

 

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On the issue of "empathy" with our enemies, Lt. Col. Oliver North (Ret.) went "On the Record" last night, describing Clinton's comments as "naive and irrational."
North said the comments are especially worrisome when you consider that Clinton is the frontrunner to be the Democratic nominee in 2016.
"I can’t think of a presidential candidate who would have said those kinds of things. Think about this. She’s urging us to empathize with our enemies. Think about December 7, 1941 and then FDR going to the Congress of the United States the next day saying, 'We need to have more empathy for Japan,'" said North.

 

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Hats off to US Special Forces.


Better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all... what they had planned for him they would have carried out , just hope that lots of the terrorist scum bags got shot up in the attempt.

 

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[h=3]Senior U.S. Leaders Condemn Murder of Luke Somers[/h]DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2014 – President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel condemned yesterday’s murder of U.S. photojournalist Luke Somers in Yemen by al Qaeda terrorists as U.S. and Yemeni commandos attempted a rescue.
Somers, 33, was taken hostage in Yemen in September 2013 by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, an al Qaeda splinter group.
Somers, who reportedly held U.S. and British citizenship, was shot by the terrorists as Special Operations forces moved in. Another hostage, South African teacher Pierre Korkie, was also fatally shot during the rescue attempt.
A Nov. 25 raid by U.S. special operations forces to rescue Somers freed some other al Qaeda-held hostages, but Somers wasn’t present.
President’s Statement
“The United States strongly condemns the barbaric murder of Luke Somers at the hands of al Qaeda terrorists during a rescue operation conducted by U.S. forces in Yemen in partnership with the Yemeni government,” Obama said in a statement issued today. “On behalf of the American people, I offer my deepest condolences to Luke’s family and to his loved ones. 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.”
The president added, “It is my highest responsibility to do everything possible to protect American citizens. As this and previous hostage rescue operations demonstrate, the United States will spare no effort to use all of its military, intelligence, and diplomatic capabilities to bring Americans home safely, wherever they are located. And terrorists who seek to harm our citizens will feel the long arm of American justice.”
After Somers was captured in Yemen, Obama said, “the United States has been using every tool at our disposal to secure his release. Earlier this week, a video released by his terrorist captors announced that Luke would be killed within 72 hours. Other information also indicated that Luke’s life was in imminent danger. Based on this assessment, and as soon as there was reliable intelligence and an operational plan, I authorized a rescue attempt yesterday. I also authorized the rescue of any other hostages held in the same location as Luke.”
Obama described Somers as “a photojournalist who sought through his images to convey the lives of Yemenis to the outside world. He came to Yemen in peace and was held against his will and threatened by a despicable terrorist organization. The callous disregard for Luke’s life is more proof of the depths of AQAP’s depravity, and further reason why the world must never cease in seeking to defeat their evil ideology.”
The president expressed his gratitude “to the U.S. forces who carried out this mission as well as the previous attempt to rescue Luke, and to the dedicated intelligence, law enforcement, and diplomatic professionals who supported their efforts. I also deeply appreciate the support and assistance provided by President Hadi and the Yemeni government, and reiterate our strong commitment to combating the shared threat posed by AQAP.
“We remember Luke and his family, as well as the families of those Americans who are still being held captive overseas and those who have lost loved ones to the brutality of these and other terrorists,” Obama added. “We remain determined to do our utmost to bring them home, and to hold those who have done them harm accountable.”
Secretary of State’s Statement
Somers’ murder “is a reminder of the brutality of the terrorists of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. They have again demonstrated their cruelty and their disdain for human life, freedom, and the Yemeni people whom they terrorize daily,” Secretary of State Kerry said in a statement issued today.
There was reason to believe that Somers’ life was in immediate danger, Kerry said, “and so we recommended that the president authorize an attempt to rescue Luke. Tragically, Luke and a foreign national hostage were killed by their captors during the course of that operation.”
Kerry said he’s “proud of the brave men and women of the U.S. military who twice risked their lives in operations to try and bring Luke home safely. We also appreciate the efforts of the dedicated intelligence, law enforcement, and diplomatic professionals who supported these operations, and we are particularly grateful to the Yemeni government, under the leadership of President Hadi, for their critical and supportive role in trying to liberate this young American from unfathomable captivity, and for their enduring partnership in combating the scourge of AQAP.”
The AWAP terrorists know “how to hate, they know how to murder, and now they have robbed a family of an idealistic young photojournalist who went to Yemen to practice his calling and document the lives of ordinary Yemenis,” Kerry said.
“As a parent, I know there are no words that can assuage the loss that Luke's family has suffered, or the anguish of the family of the second hostage who was killed,” the secretary of state said. “There's no way to wipe away their pain. But Teresa and I both pray that they can find some small solace in knowing that the United States government and all of our people grieve with them, and that there were brave Americans in uniform willing to lay down their own lives so that they had a chance to live.
“We also pray for the families of all the innocents who are held against their will, whose safe return we work towards every day,” Kerry said.
Secretary of Defense's Statement
There were “compelling reasons to believe Mr. Somers' life was in imminent danger,” Defense Secretary Hagel said in a statement issued today. Somers and a second non-U.S. citizen hostage, he said, “were murdered by the AQAP terrorists during the course of the operation. 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.”
Several of the AQAP terrorists holding the hostages captive were killed in the mission, Hagel said, who noted yesterday’s rescue attempt took place in central Yemen and was conducted in partnership with the government of Yemen.
“I thank President Hadi, the Yemeni government, and Yemen security forces for their assistance and cooperation,” the defense secretary said. “Yesterday's mission is a reminder of America's unrelenting commitment to the safety of our fellow citizens -- wherever they might be around the world.
“I commend the troops who undertook this dangerous mission,” Hagel said. “Their service and valor are an inspiration to all of us.”

 

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[h=3]Rescue Mission ‘Quick, But Thorough’ Official Says[/h]


By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
ROTA, Spain, Dec. 6, 2014 – The operation to rescue a U.S. hostage in Yemen was quickly but thoroughly planned, a senior U.S. military official said here today.
U.S. Special Operations forces were close to the Yemeni compound when al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorists detected them and murdered American Luke Somers and another Western hostage.
President Barack Obama approved the rescue attempt early Dec. 5, the official said on background. Interagency officials had such confidence in the intelligence that they unanimously recommended the rescue operation to the president.
The Yemeni government approved the operation and gave its full support.
“There is no excuse for the brutality and inhumanity of groups like AQAP and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “We will relentlessly seek to protect our citizens and punish those who threaten us.”
Military, law enforcement and intelligence specialists pinpointed where AQAP was holding the hostages and the threat the terrorists posed to them. Intelligence indicated AQAP planned to murder the hostages within 72 hours, giving added impetus to the attempt.
The time was short to plan the operation, but it was thorough, and balanced the risks to the special operations forces and the hostages, the official said on background.






Mission Conducted in Darkness
Under the cover of darkness, Special Operations forces infiltrated from CV-22 Ospreys near the remote compound in the Shabwah governate. The terrain was difficult and illumination lacking. AQAP terrorists detected the special operators as they began their final approach to the compound and they began firing wildly at the Americans.
Military assets detected a terrorist entering the building where the hostages were held and exited soon after. The terrorist had shot them, officials said.
“There is zero possibility that the hostages were victims of cross fire,” the military official said. “This was an execution.”
The special operators quickly overcame the terrorists and entered the building and reached Somers and his fellow hostage. Both were still alive.
The special operators quickly moved them to the CV-22s and evacuated them to the USS Makin Island. Surgeons and medics worked on the two men on the way to the ship, but one died en route and the other on the operating table.
All told, the operation lasted about a half-hour, with the most difficult and intense portion lasting about 10 minutes, officials said.







Six Terrorists Killed in Operation
There were no injuries to any of the 40 U.S. special operators in the rescue operation and no casualties to Yemeni civilians. Officials estimated the special operators killed six AQAP terrorists.
Dempsey, who is hosting a USO tour of the base here, said all American service members will keep the victims and families in their prayers and thoughts. “We remain on watch for the nation,” the chairman said.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the mission was a reminder to those who wish Americans ill, that the United States will protect its citizens wherever they are threatened.
“I commend the troops who undertook this dangerous mission,” Hagel said in a written statement. “Their service and valor are an inspiration to us all.”

 

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Best laid plans: Navy SEALs made it to within 100 yards of Mr Somers and fellow captive Pierre Korkie but they were executed by their captors before the team could reach them

A British-born American photographer kidnapped by Al Qaeda was just seconds from being rescued by US special forces before being shot dead by his captors yesterday.
US Navy SEALs, mounting a dramatic rescue bid, crept to within 100 yards of a compound in a remote mountain hideout in Yemen where the hostages were being held.
The mission was ordered by Barack Obama after terrorists had on Thursday threatened to kill photographer Luke Somers, 33, within 72 hours.


While British Special Forces provided key information to their US counterparts, no UK troops were directly involved in the mission.





A team of up to 20 Navy SEALs then watched the Al Qaeda compound in the village of Wadi Abadan for 24 hours, fine-tuning preparations for the raid.
On Friday evening, up to a further 80 Navy SEALs and Yemeni troops were flown from a US ship in the Arabian Gulf and touched down at a secret landing zone near the village.
According to US and Yemeni reports, a dramatic firefight took place after a villager spotted their advance and raised the alarm just as the Navy SEALs were poised to snatch the hostages.
The heavily armed Navy SEALs sprinted from house to house, surrounding the compound and shooting up to ten suspected terrorists.
US commanders appealed for the terrorists to surrender, as an official explained: ‘They called on the kidnappers to give themselves up because they were surrounded on all sides.
'But the kidnappers immediately killed two hostages, which prompted the forces to open fire on the kidnappers. They tried to give first aid to the hostages but they had lost their lives.’
Navy SEALs stormed the compound, killing the guards and recovering the fatally wounded Mr Somers and Mr Korkie.
They were carried to a waiting V-22 Osprey US aircraft, which had a surgical team on board.
At the end of the raid, US troops on the ground requested an air strike on Wadi Aba-Dan, which according to unconfirmed reports last night caused the deaths of a number of women and children.
The hostages and the US and Yemeni Special Forces were later flown back to the USS Makin Island, an amphibious assault ship positioned off Yemen’s southern coast, where Mr Somers and Mr Korkie were pronounced dead.