An American and an Italian were killed by mistake in a US operation in January at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Barack Obama on Thursday expressed “pain” and “take full responsibility”.
From the White House, Barack Obama expressed ” pain “and apologized to the families of two Western hostages killed accidentally at the beginning of the year by the US military during an operation” against a complex linked to al Qaeda. ” The drama took place on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a reputed very unstable area. According to the Wall Street Journal, the operation was carried out by drones. The United States believed that “there was no civilian on the site and capture terrorists was not possible,” said the US president. The White House said the families of the two hostages will be compensated.
“As a husband and as a father, I can imagine the despair endured today by the Weinstein family and Lo Porto,” said, his face and serious tone, US President during a brief address to the press. In a deep sigh, he said he assumed “full responsibility for these operations.” “I deeply regret what happened.” The US head of state ordered an investigation and some details of the operation be declassified to allow families to know what happened. Obama also promised to draw lessons. “We will reflect on the lessons we can learn from this tragedy and the changes that need to be made.”
Hostages Al Qaeda since 2011 and 2012
Warren Weinstein, 26 December 2013. (Credit: AP). Photo credits: Uncredited / AP
Both Western accidentally killed were both aid workers employed by Welt Hunger Hilfe NGO. They took care to build emergency housing in Pakistan after dévastratrices floods in 2010.
Warren Weinstein, US 72, was kidnapped from his home by the terrorist organization Al Qaeda August 13, 2011 at his home in Lahore, a city in eastern Pakistan. He had two daughters and two grandchildren.
In a statement released by the Washington Post, his wife, Elaine, said he was “devastated by the news. We had so much hope to secure his release. ” She said wait for the results of the independent investigation to be conducted by the US government and deplores the attitude of the Pakistani government did not act when the opportunity to release her husband arose.
For her, it was the hostage-takers of her husband who “bear the ultimate responsibility” for his death. She describes her husband as a person who has dedicated his professional life to others. “In Pakistan, where he worked before being removed, he loved and respected the Pakistani people and its culture. He learned their language and did everything to show that he met the Pakistani deeply. “
The second hostage killed Giovanni Lo Porto, Sicilian, 39, was kidnapped in Pakistan January 19, 2012 at the same time a German which itself was released in October 2014 in Kabul. The head of government
Italy deplored “a tragic and fatal mistake of our American allies”
Italian Matteo Renzi introduced his “deepest condolences” to the family of Giovanni Lo Porto, paying tribute to “a fellow who has dedicated his life to the service of others.”
The Italian Foreign Ministry lamented “an error tragic and fatal of our American allies. ” However, responsibility “is entirely up to terrorists, against which we confirm Italy’s commitment with our allies.”
An American spokesman for Al Qaeda, killed in another operation
Adam Gadahn, March 2010 photo provided by the Site Intelligence Group. (Photo credit:. AFP)
In addition, another American, who worked in the ranks of the terrorist organization, was killed in another military operation conducted in January also said the White House. This American convert to Islam, had become one of the most spokesman for Al Qaeda. He too was killed by accident.
Adam Gadahn, known as “Azzam the American” was, however, wanted by Washington for treason and for participating in “terrorist acts”. He was speaking regularly on the Internet, in Arabic and English, to preach anti-American jihad.
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