U.S. Special Operations commandos carried out a predawn raid on Saturday to rescue an American citizen who had been kidnapped this week from his home in southern Niger.
Commandos from the Navy’s elite SEAL Team 6 rescued the American, Philip Walton, 27, after tracking the phones of his attackers to a hide-out in neighboring northern Nigeria, U.S. officials said.
Pentagon said in a statement on Saturday that Walton is safe and in the care of the US State Department.
“US forces did not suffer any casualties in the rescue operation,” it added.
The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, also confirmed the development.
“The United States is committed to the safe return of all US citizens taken captive.
“We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most skilled warriors rescued a US citizen,” he said in a statement.
