Details are still sketchy, and we remind people not to jump to conclusions, but it has been reported that a rescue mission mounted by the British SBS has failed to safely recover British Engineer Christopher McManus and Italian citizen, Franco Lamolinara being held captive in Nigeria. Both men were being held by the forces of Boko Haram, a jihadist organization not unlike the Taliban. The hostages are reported as having been killed at the hands of their captors before they could be rescued. While the press is reporting the incident as a joint-mission conducted with the Nigerian military, this is highly unlikely. Hostage rescue operations require extremely tight Operational Security in order to maintain the element of surprise, critical for mission success in these cases. The Nigerian forces would never have been trusted with this information, especially with Boko Haram eyes and ears all over the country.
We will continue to monitor this story for additional details. At the moment it seems that the British are smoothing over a diplomatic incident with the Italians. Apparently, the Italian government was not informed until the operation was already underway.
From The Telegraph:
A diplomatic row has broken out over the deaths of two hostages after the Italian president claimed that the British government had not told Rome of the rescue operation.
Branding the situation “inexplicable”, Giorgio Napolitano said that he Italian government was not informed or consulted about the botched mission to rescue Briton Chris McManus and Italian Franco Lamolinara. He called for a political and diplomatic explanation from the UK.
Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, hit back, saying: “It isn’t inexplicable. It’s completely explicable what happened.”
He said that the Italian government was “informed” but didn’t specifically “approve” the rescue mission adding that the mission was launched after specific intelligence that the hostages were to be moved and killed.
Read the rest here.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
More from SOFREP
Most Read
Safeguarding U.S. Skies: Secretary Kendall’s Vision for a Modernized Air Force
2
Taleghan 2 Obliterated: How Israel is Thwarting Iran’s Homegrown Nuclear Threat
3
Inside Delta Force: America’s Most Elite Special Mission Unit
4
WWII’s Cheapest Weapon: The Story of the FP-45 Liberator Pistol
5
Why the Pentagon Needs a Trump Wake-Up Call: The Afghanistan Fiasco, Woke Culture, and Failing Our Troops
Recent Comments
Join SOFREP Team Room for Insider Access and Analysis
Your Subscription Supports our Veteran Staff
SUBSCRIBE NOW
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.