Special Operations Forces Rescue Hostage American Citizen

When my husband deploys, one of the most difficult aspects of the separation is communication. When will I be able to talk to him? What will we even be able to talk about? If I was expecting him to make contact and he didn’t, is it because he’s dead or just busy?

Because much of what he does can’t be talked about, I sometimes find myself searching the news for anything related to his various locations. He knows that I do this. I’ll never forget once when he casually asked me, “Seen anything in the news recently?”

I said, “As a matter of fact, yes!”

I described to him what I had read and he said simply, “Yep.”

And I realized that he already knew everything about it. Of course he did. And because of some of the things my husband has experienced, this story hits very close to home for me. I actually just teared up as I’m writing this because I can read between the lines. I can picture what went on behind the scenes that couldn’t be included in the articles written about this amazing rescue.

Big win for our very elite U.S. Special Forces today. Details to follow!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2020

ABC just reported details about the special operations forces of the United States military successfully rescuing an American citizen who had been taken hostage and was being held in northern Nigeria by armed men earlier this week. According to ABC,

“The mission was undertaken by elite commandos as part of a major effort to free the U.S. citizen, Philip Walton, 27, before his abductors could get far after taking him captive in Niger on Oct. 26.”

Last night, our Country’s brave warriors rescued an American hostage in Nigeria. Our Nation salutes the courageous soldiers behind the daring nighttime rescue operation and celebrates the safe return of yet another American citizen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2020

Counterterrorism officials told ABC that the governments of the U.S., Niger, and Nigeria coordinated to quickly undertake the rescue. Intelligence regarding Walton’s general whereabouts was provided by the CIA to Marine Special Operations in Africa, who helped to locate him. This information was then provided to SEAL Team Six who carried out a “precision” hostage rescue, during which six of the seven captors were killed. Sources with direct knowledge of the operation said,

“No U.S. Military personnel were injured during the operation.”

This is incredible because hostage rescue operations are generally severely dangerous for both the hostage and the soldiers undertaking the rescue.

Of the hostage-takers, sources said,

“They were all dead before they knew what happened.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said,

“Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our military, the support of our intelligence professionals, and our diplomatic efforts, the hostage will be reunited with his family. We will never abandon any American taken hostage.”

I likewise thank the amazing military servicemen and women who work tirelessly to keep our nation free and great.