American hostage Luke Somers killed in failed rescue mission, says U.S. Defense Secretary
(IraqiNews.com) U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said Saturday, that American photojournalist Luke Somers has been killed by his the militants during a failed rescue mission by the U.S. forces in Yemen.
Hagel, speaking from Kabul, Afghanistan where he made a visit yesterday, confirmed the death of Luke Somers who had been held by Yemen’s al-Qaeda since more than a year ago when he was kidnapped from Sanaa in September 2013. “There were compelling reasons to believe his life was in imminent danger,” Hagel said, describing his death.
Pierre Korkie, another hostage held by al-Qaeda was claimed to be killed in the same failed raid. Korkie is a South African who was kidnapped in Yemen in May 2013 with his wife.
Pentagon officials announced earlier today, that the two hostages died from their wounds shortly after U.S. forces reached them where they were held by the militants.
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