In another successful military operation authorized personally by President Barack Obama, on Tuesday Special Operations Forces conducted a rescue mission to recover an American humanitarian aid worker who had been kidnapped by Somali gunmen and held for nearly three months.
American Jessica Buchanan was taken captive on October 25, 2011 by the criminals while was working in Somalia to help teach local communities how to diffuse and remove landmines and other explosive ordnance which remain after years of fighting in the country. In addition Poul Thisted of Denmark, her fellow worker who was also captured by the gunmen, was also rescued.
“The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice,” President Obama said in a statement following the mission. “This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.”
The President also praised the efforts and achievements of the special operations team and stated that he had spoken with the father of Ms. Buchanan.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), there was no loss of life or injury to the operations team members.
In a statement, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta remarked, “This successful hostage rescue, undertaken in a hostile environment, is a testament to the superb skills of courageous service members who risked their lives to save others. I applaud their efforts, and I am pleased that Ms. Buchanan and Mr. Thisted were not harmed during the operation. This mission demonstrates our military's commitment to the safety of our fellow citizens wherever they may be around the world.”
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