Luke Somers

A screenshot from a video released by al Qaeda on December 4, 2014, showing hostage, Luke Somers.

A failed US hostage rescue attempt in Yemen raises more questions about US policy on hostages

Conflict

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has defended a failed operation to rescue a US hostage in Yemen. Hagel said the intelligence was sound, and so is the policy behind it. But a lot of questions remain over the raid, which ended with the hostage, Luke Somers, and another hostage, South African aid worker Pierre Korkie, getting killed.

A screenshot from a video released by al Qaeda on December 4, 2014, showing captured British-American photojournalist Luke Somers.

A failed rescue attempt in Yemen may have put an American hostage at greater risk

Conflict