U.S. special operations forces launched a rescue mission to retrieve two men kidnapped by insurgents in Afghanistan last month, but the hostages were not there when the rescue team arrived, U.S. defense officials said Thursday. Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said the rescue mission was approved by Defense Secretary Ash Carter and authorized by the president. He would not provide any more details "in order to protect the safety of hostages and operational security." According to defense officials, the mission was delayed one day because of questions about the intelligence and whether the hostages, an American and an Australian who worked at the American University of Afghanistan, were there. Officials said they would not provide the precise timing or location of the rescue attempt because it could jeopardize any possible future operations.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 08, 2016 21:47 UTC