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SANAA, Yemen (AP) — An American photojournalist and a South African teacher have been killed in a U.S.-led raid to free them from al-Qaida-affiliated militants in Yemen.
The predawn raid was the second rescue attempt in as many weeks to free Luke Somers, a 33-year-old freelance photographer and editor kidnapped just over a year ago in Yemen's capital.
Pierre Korkie was abducted 18 months ago, and a South African aid group says he was to have been released tomorrow.
President Barack Obama says he ordered the raid because Somers was believed to be in "imminent danger."
U.S. officials say about 40 American special operations forces were involved in the operation, which followed U.S. drone strikes in the area. The rescuers, backed by Yemeni ground forces, advanced within 100 meters of the compound in Shabwa province when they were spotted by the militants. A firefight ensued.
Amid the fighting, U.S. forces saw a militant briefly enter a building on the compound. U.S. officials believe it was then the militants shot Somers and Pierre Korkie. When Americans entered the building, they found both men alive, but gravely wounded.
Officials say that based on the location where Somers and Korkie were being held, there's no possibility they were struck by American gunfire.
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112-w-36-(Sagar Meghani (SAH'-gur meh-GAH'-nee), AP national security correspondent, with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel)--U.S. officials are giving more details about a failed attempt by U.S. special operations forces to rescue an American hostage in Yemen. AP National Security Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports. (6 Dec 2014)
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113-c-21-(Sagar Meghani (SAH'-gur meh-GAH'-nee), AP national security correspondent)-"away on board"-AP National Security Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports U.S. officials are giving more insight into the special operations raid that tried to free Luke Somers. (6 Dec 2014)
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APPHOTO AHM102: In this Sunday, July, 7, 2013, Luke Somers, 33, an American photojournalist who was kidnapped over a year ago by al-Qaida poses for a picture in Sanaa, Yemen. Somers and a South African teacher held by al-Qaida militants in Yemen were killed Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 during a U.S.-led rescue attempt, a raid President Barack Obama said he ordered over an "imminent danger" to the reporter. (AP Photo/Jaber Ahmad Ghrab) (6 Dec 2014)
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APPHOTO XDF802: This is an undated photo provided by the Korkie family, of South African Pierre Korkie. An American photojournalist and a South African teacher held by al-Qaida militants in Yemen were killed Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, during a U.S.-led rescue operation that President Barack Obama said he ordered because of "imminent danger" to the U.S. hostage. South African Pierre Korkie is believed to have died during the flight, while American Luke Somers died on the ship, according to senior U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information had yet to be approved for release. (AP Photo/Korkie Family) (6 Dec 2014)
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APPHOTO GFX4347: Map locates Shabwa Province, Yemen; 1c x 4 inches; 46.5 mm x 101 mm; (6 Dec 2014)
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