US Special Operations forces launched an elaborate secret operation in Syria this summer to rescue slain journalist James Foley and other Americans being held by Islamic State militants, but the mission failed as the hostages were not present at the targeted location.
In an operation somewhat reminiscent to the one launched against Osama bin laden in Pakistan in May 2011, several dozen commandos from elite units like Delta Force and Navy SEAl Team 6 flew in helicopters to pluck the American captives to safety, but they simply failed to locate them.
“Unfortunately, the mission was not successful because the hostages were not present at the targeted location,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby said on Wednesday in a rare revelation, hours after US intelligence agencies established the authenticity of a grisly ISIS video showing a masked man pulling out a knife to decapitate Foley.
Separately, The New York Times, citing a family source, reported that ISIS had demanded a multi-million ransom for the release of Foley, but the United States refused to pay. The paper contrasted this with “several European countries that have funneled millions to the terror group to spare the lives of their citizens”.
Mourning the gruesome death of Foley, a sombre President Barack Obama called the ISIS a “cancer” and vowed to bring his killers to justice. “When people harm Americans, anywhere, we do what’s necessary to see that justice is done. And we act against ISIl, standing alongside others,” said Obama, who made a statement after speaking to Foley’s parents.
“From Governments and peoples across the Middle East there has to be a common effort to extract this cancer, so that it does not spread. There has to be a clear rejection of these kind of nihilistic ideologies. One thing we can all agree on is that a group like ISIl has no place in the 21st century,” Obama said, adding: “The United States of America will continue to do what we must do to protect our people. We will be vigilant and we will be relentless.”
The rescue mission, in which one of the US commandos was reportedly injured during a fierce fight with the militants, had been specially authorised by President Obama earlier this summer following intelligence that was regarded at the time as sufficient to act upon.
“When the opportunity presented itself, the President authorised the Department of Defense to move aggressively to recover our citizens. Unfortunately, that mission was ultimately not successful because the hostages were not present,” said lisa Monaco, the President’s Assistant for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, but declined to reveal the details of the mission, citing the need to protect the military’s operational capabilities.
If not for the grotesque killing, the Obama administration might not have disclosed the failed mission. As National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden conceded: “We never intended to disclose this operation. An overriding concern for the safety of the hostages and for operational security made it imperative that we preserve as much secrecy as possible.”
Arab league condemns killing of scribe
Cairo: The Arab league on Thursday condemned the killing of US journalist James Foley by militants of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist group, MENA news agency reported. “The league condemns this tragic crime that runs counter to the noble Islamic teachings,” Deputy Secretary General of the Arab league, Ahmed ben Helli, told reporters.
‘Foley’s killer will be caught’
london: The suspected British killer of US journalist James Foley will be found and brought to justice “sooner or later”, Britain’s former anti-terrorism chief said. Richard Barrett, former head of counterterrorism at foreign intelligence service MI6, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that those who knew the suspect would be so appalled by the grisly online video of the killing that they would contact police.
Hollande outraged at execution of Foley
Saint-Pierre (France): French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday he was outraged at the execution of US journalist James Foley by Islamic State jehadis, accusing them of barbarism.