User talk:Arikay/sandbox

Introduction
The 2014 rescue mission in Syria was an American led effort to locate and rescue two-dozen hostages being held by ISIS forces. Plans to rescue the hostages was accelerated after the execution of journalist James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and Kayla Mueller by ISIS militants. A total of 14 hostages was held hostage by the IS at an undisclosed location.

History
All three of the beheading victims were citizens of America. Foley was working as a freelancer for GlobalPost and other media outlets like Agence France-Presse during the Syrian Civil War when he was captured by ISIS militants in 2012. Sotloff was an American-Israeli journalist who was working as a reporter in Syria before his capture. Mueller was a part of Doctors Without Borders and was captured by ISIS after leaving a hospital in the region. ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is a militant group, established in 2006, that is based and operates in Syria and Iraq; although they are primarily headquartered in Syria. The organization receives funding from oil production and smuggling, taxes, ransoms from kidnappings, selling stolen artifacts, extortion and controlling crops. Foley, Sotloff, and Mueller were kidnapped at varying times and held hostage by ISIS until their deaths. Hostages from other countries were also captured and held for ransom. The United States government does not negotiate with terrorist and refuses to pay ransom to these organizations. However, there are other countries do not abide by the same policy and paid the ransom of their citizens held captive by ISIS forces. The surviving hostages were instrumental in assisting the United States with locating and targeting the potential hostage house. The US sent the FBI to make contact with former European hostages who were released when their home country paid the ransom. During the FBI’s interview with the released hostages (whose names have not been disclosed for security reasons), they were able to compile information about the hostage house and where to locate the hostages within the home.

Mission Planning
One of the original hostages' ransom was paid by the British government and this individual was released from ISIS. The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) was able to locate and contact this individual for questioning in regards to where the remaining hostages were located – geographical location and within the hostage house – and other information that would assist officials in conducting the mission. Statements from the unidentified source along with other intelligence gatherings were then taken to the Pentagon to discuss the fine details of the rescue mission. Officials were aware that the possibility of successfully rescuing all of the hostages without a single American fatality would be slim but the risk was too big not to act. The covert mission was approved and operation planning soon ensued.

Operation
Once the FBI finished their initial data collection abroad, it was submitted to the Department of Defense for analysis. More information was further compiled as the investigative team raced to assess the location of the home, any persons who may be guarding the home, and any other factors that need be assessed. Although there was a fear that the remaining hostages had been moved, ultimately the planning for the covert mission began as the risk of not attempting the rescue mission was too great.

In early July, Modified Black Hawk helicopters left from an undisclosed base outside of Syria and traveled towards the suspected hostage house. As the special operations team landed near the home they instantly encountered and killed multiple ISIS members. The special operations team searched the home under the protection of drones circling above, and with ‘warplanes’ on standby. The raid is said to have involved dozens of special operations forces from all US military services, including the 160th special operations aviation regiment.

The special operations team was unable to locate and rescue any hostages. During the home search, they were able to acquire cellphones wisp of hair, half-eaten meals and, blankets for forensic evidence. After searching the home and gathering forensic evidence the operations team returned to the undisclosed base.

Aftermath
John Kirby, Pentagon Press Secretary during the Syrian Rescue Mission issued this statement in regard to the failed mission– “the operation involved air and ground components and was focused on a particular captor network within ISIS.” However, the mission was unsuccessful because the targets were not at the target location. No American forces were killed during the operation, however, during the immediate storming of the suspected location, one ISIS fighter fired at a black hawk helicopter, striking the pilot in the leg.

Political Aftermath
The failure of the operation resulted in backlash from both sides of the political aisle. During an interview, President Obama commented, “We will do everything we can, short of providing an incentive for future Americans to be caught." Although the policy remains to withstand from negotiating with terrorist organizations, the administration admitted that communication with families could have been improved. In response to this, the administration requested a review of the operation by the National Counterterrorism Center . Nonetheless, families of the victims still criticized the non-negotiating and raised the concern of the timeline for the rescue operation. . Despite the concerns, senior officials remarked on the complexity of the operation and deemed the logistical planning of the operation one of the fastest moving approval processes.