Now Reading: Libya’s Haftar helped free US hostage held by Islamic State
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Libya’s Haftar helped free US hostage held by Islamic State
Eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar brokered a deal to free an American hostage held by an Islamic State affiliate in West Africa's Sahel region, four sources told Reuters. The hostage, pilot Kevin…
The Story in Brief
Eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar brokered a deal to free an American hostage held by an Islamic State affiliate in West Africa's Sahel region, four sources told Reuters. The hostage, pilot Kevin Rideout, was working for a Christian missionary organisation in Niger when kidnapped in October. He was handed over to eastern Libyan authorities late on Thursday. One source said the Libyan side had paid a ransom, but details of any exchange were unclear.
The Indian Opinion
The Haftar deal again shows how Washington leans on strongmen to solve problems it cannot fix directly, while ignoring their own records on rights and stability. The narrative that such partnerships are pragmatic ignores the long-term cost of legitimising warlords. A key test will be whether the Trump administration demands transparency on the ransom or any concessions made to the Islamic State affiliate.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
