American hostage Luke Somers was killed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) terrorists in Yemen during a rescue effort conducted by U.S. and Yemeni forces, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuch Hagel confirmed Saturday morning.
According to Hagel's statement:
"Yesterday, by order of the president of the United States, U.S. Special Operations Forces conducted a mission in Yemen to rescue a U.S. citizen, Luke Somers, and any other foreign nationals held hostage with him by [Al-Qaeda] in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) terrorists. There were compelling reasons to believe Somers' life was in imminent danger.
"Both Somers and a second non-U.S. citizen hostage 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."
The non-U.S. citizen hostage killed during the operation in the southern Yemen province of Shabwa was identified as South African Pierre Korkie, a teacher who was expected to be released Sunday, according to the New York Times.
The rescue attempt happened two days after the Pentagon disclosed an earlier attempt in which a U.S. commando went missing, according to earlier reports.
In a video, reportedly released Thursday, al-Qaeda's Yemen commander Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi blasted the U.S. in Arabic for alleged "crimes against" the Muslim world, including U.S.-led air strikes against the Islamic State, the SITE Intelligence Group said according to the Associated Press. After al-Ansi speaks, a man identified as Somers appears and makes a statement in English pleading for his life.
Before Somers' death was confirmed by the U.S., his sister said FBI agents informed her that he was killed in the failed rescue attempt, according to The Associated Press.
"We ask that all of Luke's family members be allowed to mourn in peace," Lucy Somers told The AP.
Somers is a 33-year-old British-born U.S. citizen. The teacher and photojournalist was abducted a year ago in Yemen's capitol, Sanaa, by an al-Qaeda affiliate, according to The Telegraph.
"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," President Barack Obama said in a statement Saturday. "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."
