“Barbaric”: U.S. Hostage Killed in Yemen Rescue Bid

American citizen Luke Somers, a photojournalist held hostage in Yemen, was killed by al-Qaida during a rescue attempt conducted by U.S. Special Operations Forces, his family and the White House said Saturday. President Obama ordered the mission Friday amid "compelling reasons to believe Mr. Somers' life was in imminent danger," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement. South African hostage Pierre Korkie was also killed, along with 10 al-Qaida militants, during the operation, Hagel said. Friday's operation came two days after the Pentagon acknowledged an earlier U.S. commando mission to rescue Somers had also failed. Obama condemned the killing of Somers as "barbaric."

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