2020 Nigeria hostage rescue
{{Short description|United States Navy SEALs rescue operation}}
{{Infobox military conflict
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| date = 31 October 2020
| place = Northern Nigeria
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| result = Mission success
- Hostage rescued
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| combatant1 = {{ubl|{{flag|United States|1960}}|Supported by:{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202011010031.html|title = Nigeria: U.S., Niger, Nigeria Coordinated to Rescue American Hostage|date = November 2020}}
{{flag|Nigeria}}
|{{flag|Niger}}}}
| combatant2 = Gunmen
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| units1 = 20px Joint Special Operations Command
{{flagicon|United States Air Force|20px}} United States Air Force
- 20px Air Force Special Operations Command
- 20px 352d Special Operations Wing
- 20px 100th Air Refueling Wing
Pre mission intelligence and support:
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Marine Corps Special Operations Command{{cite news |last1=Meek |first1=James Gordon |last2=Castano |first2=Aicha El Hammar |last3=Finnegan |first3=Conor |title=American hostage Philip Walton rescued in dramatic military operation: Officials |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/american-hostage-philip-walton-rescued-dramatic-military-operation/story?id=73940195 |accessdate=2020-11-01 |work=ABC News |date=31 October 2020}}
| units2 = Unknown
| units3 =
| strength1 = {{circa}} 30 Navy SEALs and special operations personnel
- 1 AC-130J Ghostrider gunship aircraft
- 2 CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft
- 1 C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft
- 1 KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft
- 1 MC-130J Commando II special mission aircraft
- 1 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft
- 1 Gulfstream V aircraft
| strength2 = 7 gunmen
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| casualties1 = None
| casualties2 = 6 killed
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During the early hours of October 31, 2020, United States Navy SEALs from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) conducted an operation in Northern Nigeria, resulting in the rescue of an American hostage and the killing of six of the seven captors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/31/929843604/u-s-special-operations-forces-rescue-american-hostage-in-nigeria|title=U.S. Special Operations Forces Rescue American Hostage in Nigeria|website=NPR|date=31 October 2020|last1=Slotkin|first1=Jason}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/31/us-military-rescue-niger-nigeria|title = US special forces rescue abducted American in Nigeria, officials say|website = TheGuardian.com|date = 31 October 2020}} The hostage, 27-year-old Philip Walton, had been kidnapped in front of his family at his home in the village of Massalata in neighboring Niger on 26 October by armed gunmen, who intended to sell him to armed terrorist groups in the area.{{Cite web |last=Ahlijah |first=Mawulolo |date=31 October 2020 |title=Niger : l'otage américain enlevé à Massalata a été libéré par les Forces spéciales US |url=https://www.agenceecofin.com/securite/3110-81945-niger-l-otage-americain-enleve-a-massalata-a-ete-libere-par-les-forces-speciales-us |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Agence Ecofin |language=fr-fr}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/31/us/politics/navy-commandos-philip-walton-hostage-niger.html|title=Navy Commandos Rescue American Kidnapped in Niger|first=Eric|last=Schmitt|date=October 31, 2020|website=New York Times}}{{Cite web |author1=Starr |first=Barbara |last2=Browne |first2=Ryan |date=31 October 2020 |title=US special operations forces rescue American citizen held hostage in Nigeria |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/31/politics/us-forces-operation-american-citizen-africa/index.html |website=CNN}}{{Cite web |last=McNamara |first=Audrey |date=31 October 2020 |title=SEAL Team 6 rescues U.S. citizen Philip Walton in Nigeria |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seal-team-6-rescues-us-citizen-philip-walton-nigeria/ |website=CBS News}}{{Cite web |author1=Gaouette |first=Nicole |last2=Lister |first2=Tim |date=27 October 2020 |title=US citizen abducted in Niger, State Department says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/27/politics/us-citizen-abducted-niger/index.html |website=CNN}}
Background
In 2020, Niger experienced a multitude of attacks by extremists linked to both Islamic State (IS) groups and Al-Qaeda. About two months prior to the kidnapping of Walton, IS-linked militants killed six French aid workers and their Niger guide while they were visiting a wildlife park near the capital Niamey.{{Cite web|last=Tucker|first=Eric|date=October 31, 2020|title=US citizen kidnapped in West Africa rescued in military operation|url=https://abc7chicago.com/7513291/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=ABC7 Chicago|language=en}} Additionally, American aid worker Jeffery Woodke was kidnapped from Abalak in October 2016, and was believed to have been held in Mali{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=October 29, 2020|title=Kidnappers of American in Niger demand ransom: official|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/1039057/kidnappers-of-american-in-niger-demand-ransom.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029181104/https://www.modernghana.com/news/1039057/kidnappers-of-american-in-niger-demand-ransom.html |archive-date=2020-10-29 |access-date=2020-11-04|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}} before his release on 20 March 2023.{{cite news |last=Gregory |first=James |date=20 March 2023 |title=Jeffery Woodke and Olivier Dubois finally freed in West Africa |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65017545}}
Philip Walton is an American citizen and the son of missionaries, who has lived in Massalata with his wife and child for two years. His father lives in Birni-N'konni, and has lived in Niger for about 30 years.
Kidnapping and rescue
Walton was kidnapped by six men armed with Kalashnikovs from his farm in Massalata in southern Niger in the early morning of 27 October 2020.{{Cite news |last1=Balima |first1=Boureima |last2=Lewis |first2=David |date=27 October 2020 |title=Gunmen kidnap American citizen in southern Niger |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-security/gunmen-kidnap-american-citizen-in-southern-niger-idUSKBN27C17F}} The kidnappers initially demanded money from Walton, but abducted him after he was only able to offer US$40.{{Cite web |last=Slotkin |first=Jason |date=2020-10-31 |title=U.S. Special Operations Forces Rescue American Hostage In Nigeria |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/31/929843604/u-s-special-operations-forces-rescue-american-hostage-in-nigeria |access-date=2020-11-02 |website=NPR |language=en}} The kidnappers then demanded a US$1 million ransom from Walton's father{{Cite web|last=Levine|first=Jon|date=2020-10-31|title=Navy SEALs rescue American hostage Philipe Nathan in Nigeria|url=https://nypost.com/2020/10/31/navy-seals-rescue-american-hostage-philipe-nathan-in-nigeria/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=New York Post|language=en-US}} via a phone call.
The Nigerien Interior Ministry announced the incident via a statement read on national radio, which claimed that the kidnappers had searched Walton's home before fleeing with him. The country sent additional security reinforcements to the area and began efforts with the United States to secure the release of Walton.
On 31 October 2020, operatives from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, known as SEAL Team Six, rescued Philip Walton in a night-time raid that killed six of the seven gunmen. The rescue force, consisting of around 30 operatives, was inserted into the area via parachute from Air Force Special Operations aircraft of the 352nd Special Operations Wing. Once on the ground, they moved on foot for about {{convert|3|mi|km|0|spell=on|abbr=off|sp=us}} to the site where Walton was held. After a short but intense firefight, Walton was moved to an extraction point, where he and the rescue force were flown out of the area.{{Cite web |last=Demerly |first=Tom |date=2020-10-31 |title="SEAL Team Six" Makes Dramatic Predawn Hostage Rescue of American in Nigeria. |url=https://theaviationist.com/2020/10/31/seal-team-six-makes-dramatic-predawn-hostage-rescue-of-american-in-nigeria/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The Aviationist |language=en-US}}
The rescue operation involved the governments of Niger and Nigeria working together with the United States. According to a former U.S. official speaking on the operation, the CIA provided intelligence on Walton's location and elements of Marine Special Operations Command helped locate him.{{Cite web |last1=Meek |first1=James Gordon |last2=Castano |first2=Aicha El Hammar |last3=Finnegan |first3=Conor |date=October 31, 2020 |title=American hostage Philip Walton rescued in dramatic military operation: Officials |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/american-hostage-philip-walton-rescued-dramatic-military-operation/story?id=73940195 |website=ABC News}}
Officials from the US Department of Defense and US Department of State have not linked the kidnappers to any terrorist organization.
=Aircraft involved=
The Navy SEALs were flown to and out of the area via CV-22B and MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, with one AC-130J Ghostrider gunship to provide air support. The aircraft belonged to the 352nd Special Operations Wing, which were supported by five KC-135 Stratotankers of the 100th Air Refueling Wing, both based out of RAF Mildenhall.{{Cite web |last=Seck |first=Hope Hodge |date=2020-12-22 |title='You Were in the Situation Room, We Were High-Fiving:' Airmen Brief DoD Chief on Hostage Rescue Support Mission |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/12/22/you-were-situation-room-we-were-high-fiving-airmen-brief-dod-chief-sporty-hostage-rescue-support.html |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Military.com |language=en}} One Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane also took part in the operation. The aircraft were forward-positioned at Naval Station Rota in Southwest Spain before flying more than {{convert|2000|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Nigeria.{{Cite web |last=Cenciotti |first=David |date=2020-11-09 |title=Dissecting The U.S. Hostage Rescue Operation In Nigeria: Here Are All The Assets That Took Part In The Raid |url=https://theaviationist.com/2020/11/09/dissecting-u-s-hostage-rescue-operation-in-nigeria-here-are-all-the-assets-that-took-part-in-the-raid/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The Aviationist |language=en-US}}
Reaction
A statement put out by Pentagon chief spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman stated "U.S. forces conducted a hostage rescue operation during the early hours of 31 October in Northern Nigeria to recover an American citizen held hostage by a group of armed men. This American citizen is safe and is now in the care of the U.S. Department of State. No U.S military personnel were injured during the operation. We appreciate the support of our international partners in conducting this operation."{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2401101/statement-by-jonathan-hoffman-chief-pentagon-spokesman-on-hostage-rescue-operat/|title = Statement by Jonathan Hoffman, Chief Pentagon Spokesman, on Hostage Rescue Operation in No}}
US President Donald Trump hailed the operation and the rescue team on Twitter, where he said that the operation was a "big win for our very elite U.S. Special Forces" and added "[...] we got our young man back."{{cite news |last1=Krasny |first1=Ros |last2=Sink |first2=Justin |last3=Capel |first3=Charles |title='We Got Our Young Man Back,' Trump Says of Nigeria Rescue |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-31/u-s-says-it-rescued-american-citizen-held-hostage-in-nigeria |accessdate=31 October 2020 |work=Bloomberg News |date=2020-10-31}} Trump also referenced the rescue at a campaign speech in Pennsylvania, stating, "The kidnappers wished they had never done it." and "...we got our young man back."{{Cite web|last=Tomlinson|first=Lucas|date=2020-10-31|title=American hostage rescued in West Africa by SEAL Team 6 in daring raid|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/american-hostage-rescued-west-africa-seal-team-6-daring-raid|access-date=2020-11-01|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany spoke on Fox & Friends about the rescue and stated that the president prioritizes the safety of American citizens.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the operation as "outstanding."{{cite web |url= https://www.euronews.com/2020/10/31/us-citizen-kidnapped-in-niger-rescued-in-military-operation |title=US citizen kidnapped in Niger rescued in military operation |date=31 October 2020 |accessdate=2023-03-08}} In 2021, The New Yorker claimed that Pompeo was initially hesitant to provide support to the mission.{{Cite magazine|last=Farrow|first=Ronan|title=Can Biden Reverse Trump's Damage to the State Department?|url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/can-biden-reverse-trumps-damage-to-the-state-department|access-date=2021-06-17|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en-US}}