President Obama is mourning the loss of a member of the U.S. special forces who died of wounds inflicted during a successful mission to rescue a doctor from the Taliban in Afghanistan over the weekend.
Mr. Obama released a statement Sunday evening, praising the team that conducted the mission for “their extraordinary courage, skill and patriotism” and singling out the unnamed soldier who died for his sacrifice to the country.
“Tragically, we lost one of our special operators in this effort,” Mr. Obama said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, just as we must always honor our troops and military families.”
“He gave his life for his fellow Americans, and he and his teammates remind us once more of the selfless service that allows our nation to stay strong, safe and free,” he continued.
The Taliban abducted Dr. Dilip Joseph, a member of a missionary group and a doctor from Colorado Springs, outside Kabul on Wednesday. Mr. Joseph works for Morning Star Development, an American missionary group that assists the people of Afghanistan in their economic and community developments, according to KRDO, a Colorado-based television station.
After Dr. Joseph’s capture outside Kabul Wednesday, the U.S. military received information about the doctor’s whereabouts in Eastern Afghanistan in a remote area near the Pakistani border.
Gen. John Allen, the top commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, launched the rescue mission over the weekend after learning from intelligence reports that Mr. Joseph’s life was in danger.
“Today’s mission exemplifies our unwavering commitment to defeating the Taliban,” Gen. Allen said in a statement Saturday. “I’m proud of the American and Afghan forces that planned, rehearsed and successfully conducted this operation. Thanks to them, Dr. Joseph with soon be rejoining his family and loved ones.”
