U.S. Reveals Failed Rescue in Yemen

On Thursday, the United States disclosed for the first time a failed raid in Yemen last month that was meant to rescue 33-year-old journalist Luke Somers. Somers, a U.S. citizen, was kidnapped by al Qaeda’s Yemen branch in the capital city of Sana’a in September 2013. The group posted a video threatening to kill Somers this week. Details about the attempted rescue remain classified, but a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council said that the mission failed because Somers was not present at the targeted location, though other hostages were freed. Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby added that the rescue was carried out in partnership with Yemen’s military.