Deux otages d'Al-Qaïda tués par erreur dans une opération américaine

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• Publié par: Fil_actu
• Publié le: 23 avril 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 6 508
• Langue: English

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Statement by the Press Secretary
It is with tremendous sorrow that we recently concluded that a U.S. Government
counterterrorism operation in January killed two innocent hostages held by al-Qa’ida. Our
hearts go out to the families of Dr. Warren Weinstein, an American held by al-Qa’ida since
2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national who had been an al-Qa’ida hostage
2012. Analysis of all available information has led the Intelligence Community to judge with
high confidence that the operation accidentally killed both hostages. The operation targeted
an al-Qa’ida-associated compound, where we had no reason to believe either hostage was
present, located in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. No words can fully
express our regret over this terrible tragedy.
We also believe two other Americans were recently killed in U.S. Government
counterterrorism operations in the same region. We have concluded that Ahmed Farouq, an
American who was an al-Qa’ida leader, was killed in the same operation that resulted in the
deaths of Dr. Weinstein and Mr. Lo Porto. We have also concluded that Adam Gadahn, an
American who became a prominent member of al-Qa’ida, was killed in January, likely in a
separate U.S. Government counterterrorism operation. While both Farouq and Gadahn were
al-Qa’ida members, neither was specifically targeted, and we did not have information
indicating their presence at the sites of these operations.
The President directed that the information being shared today, which was properly classified
until now, be declassified and shared with the American people. He takes full responsibility
for these operations and believes it is important to provide the American people with as much
information as possible about our counterterrorism operations, particularly when they take
the lives of fellow citizens. The uniquely tragic nature of the operation that resulted in the
deaths of two innocent hostages is something we will do our utmost to ensure is not
repeated. To this end, although the operation was lawful and conducted consistent with our
counterterrorism policies, we are conducting a thorough independent review to understand
fully what happened and how we can prevent this type of tragic incident in the future.
Many within our government spent years attempting to locate and free Dr. Weinstein and Mr.
Lo Porto. The pain of their deaths will remain with us as we rededicate ourselves to adhering
to the most exacting standards in doing all we can to protect the American people.