• U.S. charges British Islamic State members in deaths of Western hostages

    U.S. charges British Islamic State members in deaths of Western hostages

    Oct 07, 2020 03:49 PM EDT

    ... hostages they had captured in Syria, including four Americans. El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey are two of four men dubbed “the Beatles” by the hostages they held captive because of their British accents. They are expected to make their first appearance in the afternoon in federal court in Alexandria ...

  • WATCH: Trump gives Medal of Honor to U.S. soldier who rescued hostages in Iraq

    WATCH: Trump gives Medal of Honor to U.S. soldier who rescued hostages in Iraq

    Sep 11, 2020 04:43 PM EDT

    ... opened, both American and Kurdish commandos escorted dozens more hostages out of the burning building. Payne reentered the building two more times to ensure every hostage was freed. He had to forcibly remove one of the hostages who was too frightened to move.Payne joined the Army in 2002 as ...

  • An exclusive interview with family of American contractor held hostage in Afghanistan

    An exclusive interview with family of American contractor held hostage in Afghanistan

    May 13, 2020 10:35 PM EDT

    Relatives of Mark Frerichs, an American being held hostage in Afghanistan, are urging the Trump administration to pause negotiations over ending the nearly two-decade-long conflict with the Taliban until Frerichs is released. Charlene Cakora, Frerichs’ sister, and her husband, Chris, told the PBS NewsHour’s Amna Nawaz on Wednesday that they fear the United States might...

  • U.S. hostage families seek better government support, report says

    U.S. hostage families seek better government support, report says

    Apr 02, 2020 02:46 PM EDT

    ... is responsible for the case. Hostage cases are worked by the FBI-led Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell and the State Department through its envoy for hostage affairs. Detainee cases are run through the State Department, largely through its consular affairs office but also its hostage office if the detention is ...

  • U.S. and Australian hostages freed by Taliban in prisoner swap

    U.S. and Australian hostages freed by Taliban in prisoner swap

    Nov 19, 2019 08:00 PM EDT

    ... committed to work closely together to address violence if the president’s decision does not produce the intended results.” Southern Zabul province, where the two hostages were freed, is heavily controlled by the Taliban and vast parts of it have long been a no-go area for the government. But ...

  • Trump names hostage envoy Robert O'Brien as new national security adviser

    Trump names hostage envoy Robert O'Brien as new national security adviser

    Sep 18, 2019 01:31 PM EDT

    ... Trump's third national security adviser. O'Brien was among five job candidates Trump said Tuesday were under consideration. As the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs at the State Department, O'Brien worked closely with the families of American hostages and advised administration officials on hostage issues. He previously ...

  • Hoyer: Democrats support border security, not taking the government 'hostage'

    Hoyer: Democrats support border security, not taking the government 'hostage'

    Jan 02, 2019 11:40 PM EDT

    House Democrats are “prepared to negotiate” with President Trump on border security, said incoming majority leader Rep. Steny Hoyer, but they don’t want the government, or the country, to be “penalized” in the meantime. Hoyer talks to Judy Woodruff about agreeing with the president on the end goal of border security, but not on how...

  • Afghan forces free most hostages taken in new Taliban attack

    Afghan forces free most hostages taken in new Taliban attack

    Aug 20, 2018 04:29 PM EDT

    Afghan forces rescued nearly 150 people Monday, including women and children, hours after the Taliban ambushed a convoy of buses and abducted them. The quick response marked a rare if limited battlefield success for the troops after weeks of unrelenting insurgent attacks.

  • WATCH: Trump says U.S. will leave Iran deal, 'will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail'

    WATCH: Trump says U.S. will leave Iran deal, 'will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail'

    May 08, 2018 12:45 AM EDT

    ... will be reinstituting the highest level of sanctions and warning any country not to help the Iranian government. Trump says America "will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail" and will not allow "a regime that chants 'Death to America'" to get access to nuclear weapons. The president says he ...

  • News Wrap: Gunman in Southern France takes hostages, attacks police

    News Wrap: Gunman in Southern France takes hostages, attacks police

    Mar 23, 2018 10:45 PM EDT

    In our news wrap Friday, protesters blocked a highway in Sacramento and prevented thousands of fans from getting into a pro basketball game over the police killing of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man. Also, a gunman in Southern France attacked police, took hostages and killed three people before being shot dead. The Islamic State...