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Conflicting Accounts Rise in Failed Hostage Rescue Conflicting Accounts Rise in Failed Hostage Rescue in Yemen
(about 11 hours later)
AL MUKALLA, Yemen — As the raid got underway in his village, Mubarak al-Harad was woken first by barking dogs, then explosions. Instinctively, he grabbed his gun.AL MUKALLA, Yemen — As the raid got underway in his village, Mubarak al-Harad was woken first by barking dogs, then explosions. Instinctively, he grabbed his gun.
“We thought we were being attacked by another tribe,” Mr. Harad said. “We are constantly at war with many tribes.”“We thought we were being attacked by another tribe,” Mr. Harad said. “We are constantly at war with many tribes.”
He saw three helicopters in the distance. United States commandos and Yemeni soldiers were advancing toward the village, Wadi Abadan, on a mission to rescue an American hostage being held by the Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, along with a South African.He saw three helicopters in the distance. United States commandos and Yemeni soldiers were advancing toward the village, Wadi Abadan, on a mission to rescue an American hostage being held by the Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, along with a South African.
Mr. Harad knew that his 28-year-old son, Sheikh, who was in the village, was a longtime member of the affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. But Mr. Harad said that he and other residents had no idea that Sheikh had smuggled foreign hostages into Wadi Abadan. So the tribesmen of the village fought back against the Americans, convinced that their homes and families were under attack, he said.Mr. Harad knew that his 28-year-old son, Sheikh, who was in the village, was a longtime member of the affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. But Mr. Harad said that he and other residents had no idea that Sheikh had smuggled foreign hostages into Wadi Abadan. So the tribesmen of the village fought back against the Americans, convinced that their homes and families were under attack, he said.
The rescue operation early Saturday in Yemen’s southern Shabwah Province ended in tragedy. The hostages, Luke Somers, an American photojournalist, and Pierre Korkie, a South African teacher, were shot by their captors, according to United States officials, who said that the commandos also killed six people, all of them militants.The rescue operation early Saturday in Yemen’s southern Shabwah Province ended in tragedy. The hostages, Luke Somers, an American photojournalist, and Pierre Korkie, a South African teacher, were shot by their captors, according to United States officials, who said that the commandos also killed six people, all of them militants.
But residents of the village, as well as a local security official, said that only two militants — Sheikh and one other — had been killed. The rest of the victims, eight in total, were civilians, including Abdullah al-Daghari, a 70-year-old man. Mr. Harad said he lost five sons, including Sheikh.But residents of the village, as well as a local security official, said that only two militants — Sheikh and one other — had been killed. The rest of the victims, eight in total, were civilians, including Abdullah al-Daghari, a 70-year-old man. Mr. Harad said he lost five sons, including Sheikh.
The conflicting accounts were impossible to reconcile. Yemeni military officials provided their own version of the outcome, claiming that 10 militants had been killed, though they mistakenly said one of them was Mr. Harad.The conflicting accounts were impossible to reconcile. Yemeni military officials provided their own version of the outcome, claiming that 10 militants had been killed, though they mistakenly said one of them was Mr. Harad.
There was no mistaking the anger and anguish in Wadi Abadan after the raid, which added to the bitter view of American counterterrorism operations in Yemen. Residents gathered at a meeting the next day to formulate a response, according to Tarek al-Daghari, a local tribal leader. The families of the victims said they would demand compensation from the government.There was no mistaking the anger and anguish in Wadi Abadan after the raid, which added to the bitter view of American counterterrorism operations in Yemen. Residents gathered at a meeting the next day to formulate a response, according to Tarek al-Daghari, a local tribal leader. The families of the victims said they would demand compensation from the government.
At the meeting, Mr. Daghari also chastised some of the parents, including Mr. Hadar, for exposing the village to harm. “I told them they should partly blame their children, for bringing Al Qaeda to the village,” he said.At the meeting, Mr. Daghari also chastised some of the parents, including Mr. Hadar, for exposing the village to harm. “I told them they should partly blame their children, for bringing Al Qaeda to the village,” he said.
Sheikh had been warned repeatedly by village elders not to shelter foreign jihadists in Wadi Abadan, and had agreed not to, according to Mr. Daghari. But he and other militants “violated the agreement when they sneaked the hostages and other members of Al Qaeda into the village,” Mr. Daghari said.Sheikh had been warned repeatedly by village elders not to shelter foreign jihadists in Wadi Abadan, and had agreed not to, according to Mr. Daghari. But he and other militants “violated the agreement when they sneaked the hostages and other members of Al Qaeda into the village,” Mr. Daghari said.
Details started to emerge after the raid, Mr. Daghari said. At least seven militants, including foreign fighters, had guarded Mr. Somers and Mr. Korkie. Among them were Sheikh and another local tribesman, who also was killed.Details started to emerge after the raid, Mr. Daghari said. At least seven militants, including foreign fighters, had guarded Mr. Somers and Mr. Korkie. Among them were Sheikh and another local tribesman, who also was killed.
Mr. Daghari said that the militants who survived had fled and would find no shelter from neighboring tribes who would fear their villages would be next.Mr. Daghari said that the militants who survived had fled and would find no shelter from neighboring tribes who would fear their villages would be next.
The Obama administration has conceded that the rescue operation was mounted in haste, out of fear that Mr. Somers’s life was in imminent danger. It was the second attempt to rescue Mr. Somers, 33, who was kidnapped in the Yemeni capital, Sana, in September 2013.The Obama administration has conceded that the rescue operation was mounted in haste, out of fear that Mr. Somers’s life was in imminent danger. It was the second attempt to rescue Mr. Somers, 33, who was kidnapped in the Yemeni capital, Sana, in September 2013.
After the first attempt, in late November, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula threatened to kill Mr. Somers within days unless unspecified demands were met.After the first attempt, in late November, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula threatened to kill Mr. Somers within days unless unspecified demands were met.
American officials have said the raid was compromised when the militants were tipped off about their approach. One of the militants headed to the building where Mr. Somers and Mr. Korkie were being held and shot them.American officials have said the raid was compromised when the militants were tipped off about their approach. One of the militants headed to the building where Mr. Somers and Mr. Korkie were being held and shot them.
The elder Mr. Harad insisted the violence could have been avoided. “If the government had told us that my son is holding hostages, I would have expelled him, or even fought him,” he said.The elder Mr. Harad insisted the violence could have been avoided. “If the government had told us that my son is holding hostages, I would have expelled him, or even fought him,” he said.