and Nigerien officials had said that Walton was kidnapped from his backyard last Monday after assailants asked him for money. “The longer a hostage is held the harder it is to find an exact location to be able and conduct a rescue operation,” the official said. But the official said that it’s crucial to act as quickly as possible so that hostages don’t wind up in the hands of al Qaeda or ISIS. counterterrorism official emphasized generally how long the odds are for rescue in the “highly dangerous” missions - less than 30%. “Those men put someone else’s life above their own, they do so selflessly….it’s an illustration of utter commitment.”Ī former U.S. “Men in these top-tier special forces units train their entire adult lives to be ready when called upon, hostage rescue operations are inherently dangerous,” he said. “Įric Oehlerich, an ABC News consultant and retired Navy SEAL, said Walton was “lucky” that such a mission was possible such as short time after he was abducted, when others have been held for years. And all Americans should be proud of them. The men and women of JSOC, and the CIA should be proud of what they did here. “Any mistake could easily lead to the death of the hostage. “These types of operations are some of the most difficult to execute,” he said. We will never abandon any American taken hostage.”ĪBC News consultant Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense and retired CIA officer, said preparations for Walton’s rescue likely started when he was abducted. “We appreciate the support of our international partners in conducting this operation.”Īnd Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our military, the support of our intelligence professionals, and our diplomatic efforts, the hostage will be reunited with his family.
May the Lord bless you President Donald Trump No U.S military personnel were injured during the operation. “This American citizen is safe and is now in the care of the U.S. forces conducted a hostage rescue operation during the early hours of 31 October in Northern Nigeria to recover an American citizen held hostage by a group of armed men,” said Pentagon chief spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman. Special Forces” in a tweet and the Pentagon lauded the rescue mission in a statement. President Donald Trump called the rescue mission a “big win for our very elite U.S. “They were all dead before they knew what happened,” another counterterrorism source with knowledge told ABC News. Then the elite SEAL Team Six carried out a “precision” hostage rescue mission and killed all but one of the seven captors, according to officials with direct knowledge about the operation. The CIA provided intelligence leading to Walton’s whereabouts and Marine Special Operations elements in Africa helped locate him, a former U.S. The operation involved the governments of the U.S., Niger and Nigeria working together to rescue Walton quickly, sources said.
26, counterterrorism officials told ABC News.
citizen, Philip Walton, 27, before his abductors could get far after taking him captive in Niger on Oct.
The hostage the waltons free#
The mission was undertaken by elite commandos as part of a major effort to free the U.S. military raid in neighboring Nigeria, officials told ABC News early Saturday. Walton was abducted recently in Niger, where he had been living.Īn American citizen abducted last week in Niger has been rescued during a high-risk U.S. American hostage Philip Walton rescued in dramatic military operation: Officials
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