Noise May Have Thwarted Somers Rescue Raid

U.S. commandos got to within 100 yards of the walled compound where al-Qaida-linked militants were holding American hostage Luke Somers and South African Pierre Korkie when a noise — possibly a dog barking — may have alerted people inside of the raid, U.S. officials briefed on the failed operation said Saturday.

Then the shooting started, The Wall Street Journal says in an analysis of the operation.

After about a 30 minute battle with the AQAP terrorists, the Special Operations team of about 40 fighters came out, still under fire and carrying the two badly wounded hostages, who medics were not able to save.

The operation to save Somers was ordered by the White House, after intelligence officials determined the AQAP militants had intended to kill him later on Saturday. The raid on the compound took