Airwars assessment
During the morning of the 6th December 2014, the US confirmed that it conducted a joint airdrop operation with Yemeni special forces, a ground attack by marines and a bombardment to attempt a hostage rescue which resulted in the death of two of the hostages, reportedly at the hands of the al-Qaeda militants, along with eight civilians and between two and 10 al-Qaeda militants allegedly killed by US forces during clashes.
Initial local reporting and statements from the Yemeni Ministry of Defense stated that 10 Al-Qaeda militants had been killed in the operation, along with another wounded, and that the hostage had been released. However, ultimately it was reported that two hostage, American journalist Luke Sommers and South African Teacher Pierre Korkie, were killed during the operation. According to the US military and other international sources, including the New York Times, both hostages were “killed by their captors, militants from Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, when they realized the rescue effort was underway”.
The US Department of Defense released a statement that “U.S. Special Operations forces were close to the Yemeni compound when al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorists detected them and murdered American Luke Somers and another Western hostage.President Barack Obama approved the rescue attempt early Dec. 5, the official said on background. Interagency officials had such confidence in the intelligence that they unanimously recommended the rescue operation to the president.” According to the US military, both hostages were still alive when US forces entered the building but both died from their injuries, adding “There is zero possibility that the hostages were victims of cross fire. This was an execution.”
Two separate Yafa News articles quoted eyewitnesses who saw the airdrop taking place in Hafreh and Hitch, in the Wadi Abadan area of Nasab in Shabwa. The first article referenced eyewitness accounts of shootings at three houses during clashes between the US forces and Al-Qaeda: the “Al-Hard family and the Al-Louj family, as well as the Daggar (al-Daghari) family” and reported that as a result, eight civilians were killed. The second article by Yafa News named the eight killed as Hajj Abdullah Louj al-Daghari, Ammar Laouj al-Daghari, Fahd Ahmad al-Hard al-Daghari, Nasser Ahmad al-Hard al-Daghari, Ahmed Mubarak al-Hard al-Daghari, Jamal Mubarak al-Hard al-Daghari, and Salih Mubarak al-Hard al-Daghari. Based on Yafa News’ other classification of those killed from the families as civilians, and their note that the homes were not known to belong to al-Qaeda, all have been classified as civilians until further information comes to light.
The New York Times also spoke with a tribal leader, Tarek al-Daghari al-Awlaki, who said “the American commandos had raided four houses, killing at least two militants but also eight civilians. He said that one of the civilians killed was a 70-year-old man.” Tribal leader Tarek added that “nine of the dead are from my tribe”, which was corroborated by source @AAidros23 which stated that “Nine members of the Awaliq (al-Awlaki) tribe were killed and several others wounded”.
The US military’s official toll is that six AQAP terrorists were killed and that there were no casualties to Yemeni civilians. According to a tribal source speaking to Xinhua News, a US drone shot two missiles at a gathering of 13 mid-level al-Qaida members who were holding a meeting, resulting in the death of 10 militants and the injury of three others. Twitter sources including Al Hadath placed the death toll as 9 “al-Qaeda fighters” as a result of a drone strike.
Twitter/X account abn_ataq posted graphic images of six deceased men identified as the “victims of the American commandos” and at least six bodies wrapped in white burial shrouds – they are not identified as civilians or militants. Source abn_ataq also posted images of men digging graves in the Wadi Abadan Cemetery for the victims of the “American landing battle”.
Local accounts quoted in Yafa News described the operation as “violent clashes taking place for hours”, and heard “intense flight of aircraft” for two days prior to the attack. Your Middle East cited eyewitness accounts of “foreign soldiers of unknown nationality parachuting in”. Yemen Press referenced reports by an Al Jazeera correspondent that the militants were killed in raids that preceded the on-ground clashes between the marines and Al-Qaeda operatives. Saeed Thabet, director of Al-Jazeera’s office in Yemen, reported clashes lasting for 1 to 2 hours, while the US military said that the operation “lasted about a half-hour, with the most difficult and intense portion lasting about 10 minutes”.
Twitter source @Ahmed2012421 noted that two Apache aircrafts and two unmanned aerial vehicles accompanying the airdrop. According to the Department of Defense, “Under the cover of darkness, Special Operations forces infiltrated from CV-22 Ospreys near the remote compound in the Shabwah governate, officials said. The terrain was difficult and illumination lacking. AQAP terrorists detected the special operators as they began their final approach on foot to the compound and they began firing wildly at the Americans.Special operators quickly entered the compound, approached the building and entered it where Somers and the other hostage were held, officials said. Military officials believe a terrorist entered the building where the hostages were held and exited soon after.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Family members (7)
Summary
Sources (40) [ collapse]
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
The operation to rescue a U.S. hostage in Yemen was quickly but thoroughly planned, a senior U.S. military official said here today.
U.S. Special Operations forces were close to the Yemeni compound when al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorists detected them and murdered American Luke Somers and another Western hostage.
President Barack Obama approved the rescue attempt early Dec. 5, the official said on background. Interagency officials had such confidence in the intelligence that they unanimously recommended the rescue operation to the president.
The Yemeni government approved the operation and gave its full support.
“There is no excuse for the brutality and inhumanity of groups like AQAP and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “We will relentlessly seek to protect our citizens and punish those who threaten us.”
Military, law enforcement and intelligence specialists pinpointed where AQAP was holding the hostages and the threat the terrorists posed to them. Intelligence indicated AQAP planned to murder the hostages within 72 hours, giving added impetus to the attempt.
The time was short to plan the operation, but it was thorough, and balanced the risks to the special operations forces and the hostages, the official said on background.
Mission Conducted in Darkness
Under the cover of darkness, Special Operations forces infiltrated from CV-22 Ospreys near the remote compound in the Shabwah governate, officials said. The terrain was difficult and illumination lacking. AQAP terrorists detected the special operators as they began their final approach on foot to the compound and they began firing wildly at the Americans.
Special operators quickly entered the compound, approached the building and entered it where Somers and the other hostage were held, officials said.
Military officials believe a terrorist entered the building where the hostages were held and exited soon after.
“There is zero possibility that the hostages were victims of cross fire,” the military official said. “This was an execution.”
The special operators quickly overcame the terrorists and entered the building and reached Somers and his fellow hostage. Both were still alive.
The special operators quickly moved them to the CV-22s and evacuated them to the USS Makin Island. Surgeons and medics worked on the two men on the way to the ship, but one died en route and the other on the operating table.
All told, the operation lasted about a half-hour, with the most difficult and intense portion lasting about 10 minutes, officials said.
Six Terrorists Killed in Operation
There were no injuries to any of the 40 U.S. special operators in the rescue operation and no casualties to Yemeni civilians. Officials estimated the special operators killed six AQAP terrorists.
Dempsey, who is hosting a USO tour of the base here, said all American service members will keep the victims and families in their prayers and thoughts. “We remain on watch for the nation,” the chairman said.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the mission was a reminder to those who wish Americans ill, that the United States will protect its citizens wherever they are threatened.
“I commend the troops who undertook this dangerous mission,” Hagel said in a written statement. “Their service and valor are an inspiration to us all.”
(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @garamoneDoDNews)