Yemen’s Al-Qaeda threatens to kill American hostage Luke Somers
(IraqiNews.com) On Thursday, al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen released a video denouncing U.S. actions in the country and threatening to kill an American hostage kidnapped over a year ago, giving Washington three days to meet its demands.
The American hostage in the video was identified as Luke Somers, a 33-year-old American photojournalist who was kidnapped by al-Qaeda in September 2013. Somers was kidnapped from an area in Yemeni capital Sanaa where he had worked as a photojournalist for the Yemen Times.
In the video released by AQAP, Somers said, “I’m looking for any help that can get me out of this situation. I am certain that my life is in danger. So, as I sit here now, I ask, if anything can be done, please let it be done. Thank you very much.”
Noteworthy, the Yemeni regime is one of the most important US-ally in the U.S. campaign against al-Qaeda shelters in the Arabian Peninsula, and the regime permits air strikes by U.S. drones targeting al-Qaeda militants on its lands.
Related articles: