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Rescued hostages flown to U.S. base in Italy

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American Jessica Buchanan and Poul Hagen Thisted of Denmark in a combination image. REUTERS/Danish Demining Group

American Jessica Buchanan and Poul Hagen Thisted of Denmark in a combination image.

Credit: Reuters/Danish Demining Group

WASHINGTON | Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:59am EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two hostages rescued by U.S. special forces in a daring raid in Somalia have been flown to an American naval installation in Italy, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday.

American Jessica and Poul Hagen Thisted of Denmark were at Naval Air Station Sigonella, still readjusting after their three month hostage ordeal that ended on Wednesday with a dramatic rescue by the elite Navy SEALs.

"Buchanan is being reunited with her father and husband there," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Navy SEALs drawn from the same unit that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan last year parachuted into Somalia under the cover of darkness, killing the kidnappers and freeing the hostages.

President Barack Obama ordered the rescue operation, which also involved other U.S. forces, after intelligence emerged about the deteriorating health of Buchanan and the location of the hostages in Somalia.

(Reporting By Phil Stewart; Editing by Jackie Frank)
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Comments (2)
Democrat wrote:
awesome.

Jan 26, 2012 9:55am EST  --  Report as abuse
Geo_Tirebiter wrote:
God bless our troops. Since constitutional times (sing along “…to the shores of Tripoli”), our citizens have been attacked, kidnapped and held for ransom in that part of the world. When will these morons learn we won’t stand for it? We never have and never will.

Jan 26, 2012 10:22am EST  --  Report as abuse
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