Pentagon confirms failed attempt to rescue American hostage in Yemen

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Pentagon confirms failed attempt to rescue American hostage in Yemen
(Image credit: USAf/Getty Images)

The Defense Department on Thursday confirmed reports that it carried out a hostage rescue operation last month that failed to free American Luke Somers, who is being held by a Yemen-based Al Qaeda offshoot. The Pentagon said it rescued eight hostages in the operation, but Somers, who was threatened with execution in a video released Thursday, was not at the rescue site.

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Jon Terbush
Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.