SEAL Team 6 in action: Aid workers held by Somalian pirates rescued

SEAL Team 6 yet again came into a daring pre-dawn action on Wednesday and rescued 2 aid workers detained in Somalia. The two aid workers, Dane Poul Thistead and American Jessica Buchanan, had been held hostage by Somali pirates since October, 2011.

The raid by the Seal team 6 is publically the second significant one in line after killing al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a special night operation inside Pakistan in May, 2011.

SEAL Team 6, which is formally branded as the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, is one of the military’s leading and extraordinary operation components that plans and executes covert operations to protect US interests and citizens across the world.

SEAL Team 6, which was initially put up to be a maritime-centered hostage-rescue tam, is based in Dam Neck and it has now developed into the sea bound complement to the Army’s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta.

“I am grateful to report that there was no loss of life or injuries to our personnel,” said Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, in a statement. “The successful hostage rescue, undertaken in a hostile environment, is a testament to the superb skills of courageous service members who risked their lives to save others. The mission demonstrates our military’s commitment to the safety of our fellow citizens wherever they may be around the world.”

According to officials, the Navy SEAL team planned and executed the pre-dawn operation; however the Pentagon avoided confirming media reports that it was SEAL Team 6, due to security reason.

Reports about details of the operation suggest that the SEAL Team 6 members parachuted into the Somali compound where the two hostages were detained, swapping fire with the captors ahead of securely getting the hostages onto helicopters.

According to a Pentagon official, there were 9 kidnappers and all of them were killed while the 2 aid workers and U.S. forces were uninjured.

Reports suggest that President Barack Obama gave green signal for the mission on Monday.

“The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring the captors to justice,” Obama said in a statement on Wednesday. “This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.”