The Pentagon confirmed Thursday evening that U.S. forces were unsuccessful in their mission to rescue hostages in Afghanistan last month.
“In August, at the recommendation of [Defense Secretary Ash] Carter, President Obama authorized U.S. forces to conduct a mission in Afghanistan, aimed at recovering two civilian hostages,” Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the hostages were not at the location we suspected. During the mission, U.S. forces engaged and killed a number of hostile forces. No U.S. personnel or civilians were harmed.”
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The Defense Departent said it will not share additional information about thec mission or any upcoming operations due to national security concerns and ensuring the safety of the hostages.
The SEAL team had attempted to retrieve American and Australian professors who had been kidnapped from American University in Kabul last month. Rescuers were unable to find the two individuals at the location they searched. Seven enemy fighters were killed during the ambush.
