U.S. Special Forces assist in rescue at Mali hotel

The U.S. military is aiding in the rescue of more than 150 hostages in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali's capital, a U.S. Africa Command spokesperson told NBC. An unknown number of gunmen seized the hotel Friday morning; the perimeter has since been sealed and is being searched for terrorists. At least three people are reportedly dead.

Between 12 and 15 Americans are thought to have been in the hotel at the time the gunmen attacked, a defense official told The New York Times. So far, six Americans have been confirmed safe.

Col. Mark Cheadle, with the United States Africa Command, said that the "U.S. forces have helped move civilians to secure locations, as Malian forces work to clear the hotel of hostile gunmen." Nationals from Algeria, Turkey, China, Germany, India, and Guinea are among the 80 known freed hostages; the status of four Belgians staying at the hotel is still unknown.

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The affiliation of the gunmen remains unclear, although one freed hostage reported hearing them speak English. Islamist militants took control of northern Mali in 2012; they were driven out only after the French led a military operation in the country. The jihadists have launched isolated attacks since being ousted in 2013.