Navy SEALS Rescue Two Hostages in Night Raid on Somali Pirates

American Jessica Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagen Thisted were kidnapped in October by Somali pirates while working in a nearby region that has managed to established a shaky governmental structure. The pair had been held for months by the Somali pirates in one of their bases near Haradheere in central Somalia. The kidnapping of the pair was rare for the Somali pirates, who typically focus their efforts on ships at sea.

The dramatic rescue of the hostages took place at night, with members of Navy SEAL Team Six choppering in and killing all nine Somali pirates who were guarding the hostages. Buchanan and Thisted were then airlifted to an undisclosed location, and both have now been moved to the only US military base in Africa, which is in Djibouti. No American soldiers were killed in the daring raid.

Rumors are swirling that the rescue was ordered because of Buchanan's failing health. It was suspected that she may be suffering from a kidney infection, which would indicate that the pirates were communicating with government officials about the captives. Somali pirates often kidnap westerners and citizens of developed nations, then request huge ransoms in exchange for their safe return.

Navy SEAL Team Six became national heroes when they executed the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden last year. This is the second time that US Special Forces have been used to rescue an American hostage from Somali pirates - and in each instance the rescue was executed to perfection.