The Pentagon announced Thursday that an attempt in August to rescue two civilian hostages in Afghanistan failed.
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said President Obama authorized the mission at the recommendation of Defense Secretary Ash Carter, but "unfortunately, the hostages were not at the location we suspected. During the mission, U.S. forces engaged and killed a number of hostile forces. No U.S. personnel or civilians were harmed." Rescue attempts like this one are "inherently sensitive and dangerous and careful deliberation went into this mission," Cook said. "The United States military remains fully prepared to take extraordinary steps to protect American citizens anywhere in the world."
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