when some kind of sound alerted militants who were holding the hostages that the special operations team was nearby. like a cellphone call from the US telling them heads up there's company
Posted on 12/06/2014 9:38:37 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
United States military and intelligence officials are still piecing together what happened early Saturday that sabotaged an attempt to rescue two hostages from al Qaeda in Yemen.
Despite being ready with a roughly 40-man special operations team and days to plan the operation, U.S. photojournalist Luke Somers and South African teacher Pierre Korki both died shortly after the midnight raid. The key problem, officials told the Wall Street Journal, came when some kind of sound alerted militants who were holding the hostages that the special operations team was nearby. The militants were part of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP.
It could have been a dog bark or any number of noises, but military officials who spoke to the Journal said the militants suddenly opened fire when troops were about 100 yards away.
The raid’s failure came as a reminder that not all special operations can be as successful as, for example, the one that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. Saturday's rescue bid followed another unsuccessful attempt to free Somers late last month, an operation that led to the southern Yemen compound that ended up being raided Saturday.
After President Obama approved the mission Friday morning, military and intelligence leaders scheduled it for early Saturday, which was about 5 p.m. Friday on the United States’ East Coast.
They believed that al Qaeda would kill Somers later that day. They knew there was another hostage in the compound, but they did not know who until after the operation.
Officials told the Journal that after the team’s cover was blown, a militant ran into the building that they believed housed Somers. The militant likely shot both of them before running out.
The United States team then entered the building, and Somers and Korki were both alive. The hostages were loaded onto a helicopter and brought to a Navy assault ship off Yemen’s coast, the Journal said.
One died on the helicopter and another on the ship, but officials declined to identify which one died when.
No United States troops were injured in the operation, and they believe about six al Qaeda fighters were killed.
Is the annointed one going to spike the football?
Why is our military now in the business of risking the lives of our troops to rescue citizens who voluntarily placed themselves in a war zone?
Amen!
citizens and..........non citizens
Well, aren’t the military servicemembers human beings? Aren’t they susceptible to screwing up? This shouldn’t be hard to figure out here.
Or how about getting a “hostage” who deserted?
I suspect the dog was named Valerie.
Did they at least kill or capture the b*stards that were guarding them, or was that against the mission’s ROE handed down from on high?
I read somewhere else that nearby locals sent out messages on Twitter about hearing drones overhead. If someone is holding hostages and hears about drones in the area, I’m sure that would get their interest. lol
> they believe about six al Qaeda fighters were killed
Assuming the terrorist compound contained more than six terrorists, shouldn’t all of them been dispatched and the compound flattened? Sounds like a good target for some MOABs.
And especially for a member of the media. With all due respect to the deceased not one American serviceman or special operations personnel should have to put their lives on the line to rescue people who have no business being in war zones. I expect a multitude of media stories today blaming the military for the failed operation and this photo journalist being hailed as a hero.
when some kind of sound alerted militants who were holding the hostages that the special operations team was nearby. like a cellphone call from the US telling them heads up there's company
Kind of funny how this went down at the bottom of the weekly news cycle, sort of like the late Friday night document drop.
that entire area and the surrounding 6 square blocks should immediately disappear....just to get their attention!
Color me cynical, but anyone think the “sound” was the ringing of a satellite phone call from parts unknown
Possible something like this.
RRRRIINGG RRRIINNGG
Hello. Who is this?
Let me speak to your commander.
Achmed. Who is it?
Akbar the call is for you. She says its important.
The mission was delayed from the original TOT (Read: Time on Target) by POTUS because the live predator feed from the scene to the White House Situation Room was not operational due to a satellite issue. This caused a delay in the photo op scheduled in the Situation Room thus causing a delay in the highly synchronized operation and the compromise of the assault force. OK...OK...sarc off.
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