WASHINGTON (AP) - 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. Cook said no U.S. personnel or civilians were injured and added that 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 would not provide the precise timing or location of the rescue attempt because they said it could jeopardize any possible future operations.

Because of questions about the intelligence — including the degree of confidence in the information that the men were at that location — administration officials did not forward the mission request to President Barack Obama until the next day, officials said. Obama approved the mission, and commandos went out that next night.

The officials said that when U.S. commandos arrived at the location, they killed seven enemy fighters. They said that based on interviews with people at the site, it’s still not clear if the hostages were ever there.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, so spoke on condition of anonymity.

The two men were kidnapped from their vehicle as they traveled from the university to their residence in Kabul last month. The rescue was attempted not long after their kidnapping. </s> Story highlights There was a firefight on the ground in which seven enemy fighters were killed

The university has become a target of Taliban-linked insurgents in recent weeks

Washington (CNN) A few days after an American and Australian were kidnapped from American University in Kabul last month, US Special Operations Forces from SEAL Team 6 attempted to rescue them but failed to find them at the location they went to, according to three administration officials.

There was a firefight on the ground in which seven enemy fighters were killed, according to the officials.

The US was never certain the professors were at the site, or if they were, when they had been moved. Some electronic media was recovered indicating the identities of those who were holding them.

SEAL Team 6 used a HALO jump, which is a high altitude jump from an aircraft, in the operation. A HALO is generally only attempted when there is no other option.

The American University in Afghanistan opened in 2006. It's the only private, nonprofit, coed university in that country and has about 1,700 full- and part-time students. The school is regarded as a symbol of cooperation between Afghanistan and the United States.

Read More </s> U.S. Special Operations forces conducted a secret raid last month to rescue Western hostages in Afghanistan but failed to recover the men, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said President Barack Obama, acting on a recommendation from Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, authorized the August mission to rescue the two civilian hostages in an unspecified area of Afghanistan.

U.S. officials believed the hostages, an American and Australian who were professors at the American University in Kabul and were seized at gunpoint in early August, were being held in eastern Afghanistan by the Haqqani network, a hard-line Taliban faction.

During the raid, a team of Navy SEALs touched down under the cover of night at a compound where the hostages were believed to be held. The hostages were not there, but a group of militants was, leading to a firefight in which seven militants were killed, officials said. No Americans were wounded.

"Military hostage rescue operations are inherently sensitive and dangerous, and careful deliberation went into this mission," Cook said in a statement. "The United States military remains fully prepared to take extraordinary steps to protect American citizens anywhere in the world."

The attempt to rescue the kidnapped professors, American Kevin King and Australian national Timothy Weeks, was first reported by Fox News. Officials declined to say whether they know the current whereabouts of the hostages.

It was the SEAL team's second attempt in two days to recover the men. A night earlier, the elite forces had boarded their aircraft and flown toward their target even before their mission had secured presidential approval, officials said. They were forced to turn back because the proposal for the raid had not reached the White House with sufficient time for it to be reviewed and presented to President Obama for approval.

"There was a very narrow window before the sun came up," said a defense official who like others interviewed spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

By the next night, Obama's most senior advisers had studied the plan, assessing the intelligence about the hostages' whereabouts and the risks to American personnel. The president signed off on it, meaning the nighttime raid could go forward.

"The president authorized this mission when it was presented to him, with the careful review and recommendation of his national-security team, soon after the Pentagon submitted their request," a senior administration official said.

Some officials stressed the unusual nature of the SEALs' step in initiating the raid the first night without having the required approval beforehand.

Officials also said there was disagreement among intelligence experts about whether the hostages had been at the compound the first night and possibly moved before the raid occurred on the second night, or whether they were never there.

The administration was also scrambling to inform the families of the abducted men even as they coordinated with the Afghan and Australian governments in responding to the disappearance.

The raid took place as a reduced U.S. military force seeks to help Afghan troops confront a resurgent Taliban. While the Obama administration declared an end to combat operations in 2014 and Western nations have pulled out most of their troops, militants continue to threaten the government, this week launching an offensive to capture a provincial capital.

Militants have also struck Western targets in the Afghan capital repeatedly, including restaurants, embassies and aid organizations. Several weeks after the professors' kidnapping, militants attacked the American University in a prolonged assault.

It is not the first time the U.S. military has attempted to rescue Western hostages in Afghanistan. A Navy SEAL won a Medal of Honor for his role in the 2012 operation to rescue an American doctor kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan. In 2010, a British aid worker was accidentally killed by U.S. forces during a rescue attempt in eastern Afghanistan. </s> U.S. attempted to rescue two hostages in Afghanistan -Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - U.S. forces attempted to rescue two civilian hostages in Afghanistan last month, but the captives were not at the location and no U.S. personnel or civilians were harmed in the attempt, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

"In August, at the recommendation of Secretary Carter, President Obama authorized U.S. forces to conduct a mission in Afghanistan, aimed at recovering two civilian hostages," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the hostages were not at the location we suspected," Cook said.

He added that U.S. forces "engaged and killed a number of hostile forces."

The identities of the hostages were not disclosed.

In early August, two faculty members of the American University of Afghanistan, one American and one Australian, were abducted at gunpoint from a road near the university in Kabul. (Reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington and Phil Stewart in Oslo; Editing by Peter Cooney) </s> The woman was seized in Kabul's Qala e Fatullah area area on Saturday evening as she was traveling by car with her driver, said Basir Mujahid, a spokesman for Kabul's police chief.

Police are investigating the abduction, said Mujahid.

He said the woman, who is an Australian citizen of Pakistani origin, works for the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR,) which describes itself as an Afghan independent body bringing together more than 150 national and international NGOs operating in the country.

The Australian Embassy in Kabul is making urgent inquiries into the reported kidnapping, a spokeswoman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.

"Due to the nature of the incident we will not be commenting further," the statement said. "We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Afghanistan because of the extremely dangerous security situation, including the serious threat of kidnapping." Both Afghans and foreigners face the risk of abduction in Afghanistan, with two previous cases this year also involving Australians. An Australian aid worker was abducted from her home in Jalalabad in Afghanistan in April, but was freed in August. Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security said Kerry Jane Wilson was released after it conducted a special operation. An American and an Australian were also kidnapped from American University in Kabul in August. A rescue attempt by US Special Operations Forces from SEAL Team 6 failed when they were not found at the location targeted. In June, nearly 200 people were kidnapped by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Kunduz, police said. The majority were released but the fighters killed several people and kept around 20 hostage. </s> SYDNEY (AP) - U.S. Marine teams were conducting search and rescue operations off the east coast of Australia Saturday for three Marines missing after a "mishap" with their Osprey aircraft.

Twenty-three of the 26 personnel aboard have been rescued, according to the Marine Expeditionary Force.

The Herald Sun also published an unconfirmed report of two or three fatalities in the incident off Queensland near Rockhampton.

The Osprey aircraft were in Australia for a joint military training exercise held by the U.S. and Australia last month in Shoalwater Bay. The Talisman Sabre exercise, a biennial event between the two nations, involved more than 30,000 troops and 200 aircraft.

The MV-22B “Osprey” tilt rotor aircraft, which can take off and land vertically but fly like an airplane, has a crew of four and can carry up to the 32 people.They have been involved in a series of high-profile crashes in recent years.

In 2015, a U.S. Osprey crashed during a training exercise in Hawaii, killing two Marines. Last December, a U.S. military Osprey crash-landed off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa. Its five crew members were rescued safely. And in January, three U.S. soldiers were wounded in the "hard landing" of an Osprey in Yemen.

Twenty-three of the 26 personnel aboard have been rescued, according to the Marine Expeditionary Force. </s> SYDNEY (AP) — U.S. military officials called off a search and rescue operation on Sunday for three U.S. Marines who were missing after their Osprey aircraft crashed into the sea off the east coast of Australia while trying to land.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps suspended the rescue operation and launched a recovery effort instead, the Marine base Camp Butler in Japan said in a statement, essentially confirming the military does not expect to find the missing Marines alive.

The Marines’ next of kin had been notified, and Australia’s defense force was assisting the Americans with the recovery effort, the statement said.

The MV-22 Osprey had launched from the USS Bonhomme Richard and was conducting regularly scheduled operations on Saturday when it crashed into the water, Camp Butler said. The ship’s small boats and aircraft immediately responded in the search and rescue efforts, and 23 of 26 personnel aboard the aircraft were rescued.

“Recovery and salvage operations can take several months to complete, but can be extended based on several environmental factors,” Camp Butler’s statement said. “The circumstances of the mishap are currently under investigation, and there is no additional information available at this time.”

The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like an airplane. They have been involved in a series of high-profile crashes in recent years.

The aircraft was in Australia for a joint military training exercise held by the U.S. and Australia last month in Shoalwater Bay in Queensland state. The Talisman Sabre exercise, a biennial event between the two nations, involved more than 30,000 troops and 200 aircraft.

Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne said Saturday’s incident occurred off the coast of Shoalwater Bay.

“I can confirm no Australian Defence Force personnel were on board the aircraft,” Payne said in a statement.

Payne said she had spoken with U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis “to offer Australia’s support in any way that can be of assistance.”

A White House official said President Donald Trump had been briefed by chief of staff John Kelly on the mishap of an aircraft off the east coast of Australia.

In 2015, a U.S. Osprey crashed during a training exercise in Hawaii, killing two Marines. Last December, a U.S. military Osprey crash-landed off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa. Its five crew members were rescued safely. And in January, three U.S. soldiers were wounded in the “hard landing” of an Osprey in Yemen. </s> SYDNEY (AP) — U.S. military officials called off a search and rescue operation on Sunday for three U.S. Marines who were missing after their Osprey aircraft crashed into the sea off the east coast of Australia while trying to land.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps suspended the rescue operation and launched a recovery effort instead, the Marine base Camp Butler in Japan said in a statement, essentially confirming the military does not expect to find the missing Marines alive.

The Marines’ next of kin had been notified, and Australia’s defense force was assisting the Americans with the recovery effort, the statement said.

The MV-22 Osprey had launched from the USS Bonhomme Richard and was conducting regularly scheduled operations on Saturday when it crashed into the water, Camp Butler said. The ship’s small boats and aircraft immediately responded in the search and rescue efforts, and 23 of 26 personnel aboard the aircraft were rescued.

“Recovery and salvage operations can take several months to complete, but can be extended based on several environmental factors,” Camp Butler’s statement said. “The circumstances of the mishap are currently under investigation, and there is no additional information available at this time.”

The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like an airplane. They have been involved in a series of high-profile crashes in recent years.

The aircraft was in Australia for a joint military training exercise held by the U.S. and Australia last month in Shoalwater Bay in Queensland state. The Talisman Sabre exercise, a biennial event between the two nations, involved more than 30,000 troops and 200 aircraft.

Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne said Saturday’s incident occurred off the coast of Shoalwater Bay.

“I can confirm no Australian Defence Force personnel were on board the aircraft,” Payne said in a statement.

Payne said she had spoken with U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis “to offer Australia’s support in any way that can be of assistance.”

A White House official said President Donald Trump had been briefed by chief of staff John Kelly on the mishap of an aircraft off the east coast of Australia.

In 2015, a U.S. Osprey crashed during a training exercise in Hawaii, killing two Marines. Last December, a U.S. military Osprey crash-landed off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa. Its five crew members were rescued safely. And in January, three U.S. soldiers were wounded in the “hard landing” of an Osprey in Yemen.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook </s> Thai cave rescue: Former Navy SEAL working to rescue boys dies from lack of oxygen

Updated

Thai authorities say a former Navy SEAL working to rescue the boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave died from lack of oxygen.

Key points: Petty Officer First Class Saman Kunan was a former Navy SEAL

He was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission

He passed out while underwater and efforts to resuscitate him failed

Petty Officer First Class Saman Kunan, a former member of Thailand's elite Navy SEAL unit who was part of the rescue team in Chiang Rai, died on Thursday night after entering the cave to lay oxygen tanks along a potential exit route, the SEAL commander said.

SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference on Friday morning the rescuer was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters.

The ABC understands he was diving late at night to get to the chamber where the boys are trapped.

Petty Officer Saman, 38, set out at 8:37pm local time to deliver three oxygen tanks from chamber three to where the boys and their coach are located.

He completed his task but on the way back lost consciousness. His diving partner performed CPR but was unable to revive him.

Petty Officer Saman was brought to chamber three but was pronounced dead about 1:00am (local time) on Friday.

He is one of about 80 Thai Navy SEALs. They make up the bulk of the divers that are running the rescue effort.

Rear Admiral Arpakorn said despite the tragedy, the rescuers "will continue until we accomplish our mission".

"In that 1,700-metre section [it] is very treacherous," he said.

"Last night's operation was to bring the oxygen tanks to the mound, which should take about five to six hours each way, so altogether it takes about 12 hours.

"This is what we train for, this is what we have to face, an incident like this can always happen but we're not losing our motivation.

"We won't let the life lost be wasted."

He said Thailand's King had ordered a royally-endorsed funeral ceremony.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Rescuers pump water and drill rock inside cave where Thai boys are trapped (ABC News)

Petty Officer Saman was a former clearance diver for the Navy SEALs, and Thai media has reported he was more recently working in a security role at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from a flooded cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23.

A navy source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the ABC three factors were driving the urgency — the water level inside the cave, the amount of oxygen available, and the health of the boys and their coach.

"The pressure we are experiencing comes from working against the weather, as the forecasts tell us there will be heavy rain in this area within 48 hours," he said.

The soccer team was trapped in a cave system known as Tham Luang, surviving for nine days before rescue divers found them on a muddy ledge.

The navy source said two of the boys were in a weaker condition, as was the 25-year-old coach, who sacrificed his share of their meagre food supplies to give to the boys.

The source said rescue coordinators faced tough choices and there were differences of opinion among those providing assessments.

ABC, wires

Topics: disasters-and-accidents, floods, accidents, thailand

First posted
United States Navy SEALs, by high altitude parachuting, fail in a rescue attempt after the team does not find the American and Australian hostages who were kidnapped in Kabul last month.