American Hostage Kidnapped in West Africa Rescued by US Forces

Nigerian army soldiers board a pickup to escort Nigerians heading north towards Libya as they leave Agadez, Niger on Oct. 29, 2019. Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

An American hostage held by a group of armed men in West Africa was rescued early on Oct. 31 during a rescue operation by U.S. special forces.

Counterintelligence officials told Fox News and ABC News that the elite SEAL Team 6 carried out the mission to rescue 27-year-old Philip Walton, who was kidnapped in Niger early last week when six armed men took him across the border into northern Nigeria.