Militants posted a video of UK-born photojournalist Luke Somers last week threatening to kill him
The
US will not be reviewing its operations to free Americans held by
militants despite recent failures, says Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel.
US journalist Luke Somers and South African teacher Pierre
Korkie were killed by al-Qaeda in Yemen gunmen during a US-led operation
on Saturday.Mr Hagel defended the rescue attempt, saying such raids were risky but that there was no need for a policy review.
The family and friends of both men have criticised the armed raid.
The US says the raid in southern Yemen was launched because intelligence suggested there was an immediate threat to Mr Somers's life.
It came three days after militants released a video of the UK-born photojournalist, saying he would be killed within 72 hours if unspecified demands were not met.
South African teacher Pierre Korkie (right) was abducted in May last year in Yemen's second city, Taiz
She said there had been "threats before that had not been carried out," adding that his father, Michael, was angry because if "there had not been a rescue attempt he would still be alive".
'Imminent danger' US special forces had already sought to rescue Mr Somers in November. They also attempted to free US journalist James Foley in Syria, weeks before he was beheaded by Islamic State militants in August.
US President Barack Obama called the murder of Mr Somers "barbaric" and said he had authorised the operation because information "indicated that Luke's life was in imminent danger".
Last month, the White House said President Obama had ordered a comprehensive review of US policy on freeing American hostages, but said he still opposed the payment of ransoms.
But Mr Hagel said there was no need for a review of the process leading to rescue attempts because that process "is about as thorough as there can be".
"Is it imperfect? Yes. Is there risk? Yes. But we start with the fact that we have an American that's being held hostage and that American life is in danger," he told reporters during a trip to Afghanistan.
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Luke Somers was abducted in Yemen in 2013, as Frank Gardner reports
Gift of the Givers, a charity working with Mr Korkie, said the South African had been expected to be freed on Sunday - a day before the raid was launched.
Anas Hamati, the charity's project director, said mediators had been working on an "arrangement to take him out" but the US rescue attempt had "destroyed everything".
'Finger pointing' The South African government said it was "deeply saddened" by Mr Korkie's killing, adding that his body was expected to arrive in the country later on Monday.
Nelson Kgwete, a spokesman for the government, said it was not the time for "finger pointing" over the death.
About 40 US special forces troops are thought to have taken part in the operation, which came after drone strikes in the area.
Reports say the soldiers landed by helicopter around six miles (10 km) from the compound where the hostages were being held but a gunfight broke out when militants spotted them.
Pierre Korkie's wife, Yolande, was also kidnapped but she was released by militants on 10 January
US officials said the men could not have been hit by US gunfire, based on where they were being held. The raid lasted about 30 minutes.
Mr Somers was kidnapped outside a supermarket in the Yemeni capital Sanaa in September 2013.
He worked as a journalist and photographer for local news organisations and his material appeared on international news outlets, including the BBC News website.
Mr Korkie was abducted with his wife Yolande in May last year in Yemen's second city, Taiz. She was freed on 10 January without ransom and returned to South Africa
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