A Delta Force operation, authorized by the White House with 24 hours late, aimed at the release of two professors from the American University of Afghanistan kidnapped in Kabul last month, proved to be a failure. That's what the Department of Defense says in the rumors gathered by Fox News.
The rescue mission took place near Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan, a few days after the kidnapping, which occurred last August 7 by a group of Afghan Haqqani insurgents. One of the hostages is American, the other is Australian. The Delta Force, once authorized, broke into a facility where prisoners were believed to be detained, eliminating seven terrorists. No trace of hostages, however.
The operation took place 24 hours after the immediate request for intervention, not granted by Obama. It is unclear whether the hostages were transferred before the second rescue attempt.
In these hours other details have emerged. The White House would not have granted permission because there was no unanimous agreement between the various government agencies. The use of US special departments in an operational context must always be authorized by the president. Only and if the life of the hostages is considered to be in imminent danger of life, the unit can intervene without the go-ahead of the supreme commander of the US armed forces. According to administration officials, the hostages were not in danger of death.
The US intelligence community today ignores the location of the two teachers. The Pentagon classified the details of the operation, underlining in a statement that the intervention was authorized on the recommendation of the Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and that there would be no delay in giving the green light to the raid.
(photo: US DoD)
