U.S. Rescue Attempt in Afghanistan Missed Western Hostages by Hours

Navy SEALs led an unsuccessful raid last month to free an American university professor and his Australian colleague who are being held by the Taliban, engaging in fierce gun battle with dozens of insurgents at a remote compound in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, American officials said Thursday.

American officials said the rescue mission was launched in the days after the professors, Kevin King, the American, and Timothy Weeks, the Australian, were taken at gunpoint on Aug. 7 from their vehicle in Kabul near the campus of the American University of Afghanistan, where they teach. The officials said the group of SEAL members, backed by Army Rangers, are believed to have missed the men by hours.

The Pentagon confirmed in a statement that a raid had taken place to rescue two civilians, but it said that “the hostages were not at the location we suspected.” No Americans were killed, though “a number” of insurgents were, it said.

The raid, which was first reported by Fox News, was authorized by President Obama, the Pentagon said. “In order to protect the safety of hostages and operational security,” its statement did not specify whom exactly the SEAL members were seeking to rescue or provide any more details about the raid.

The officials said they believed that the men are being held by the Haqqani network, among the most capable and violent factions of the Taliban. The Haqqanis have held a number of high-profile Western captives over the years, including Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was freed in 2014 in a prisoner swap with the United States.

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