Hostages killed in US anti-terror operation

Two hostages held by al Qaida and two Americans working with the militant group were killed in US counter-terrorism operations earlier this year, the White House has said.

The White House said American Warren Weinstein, an American held by al Qaida since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national held by al Qaida since 2012, were killed in a January operation in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The operation targeted an al Qaida-associated compound and there was no reason to believe either hostage was present at the location, the White House said.

The US believes that Ahmed Farouq, an American who the White House says was an al Qaida leader, was killed in the same operation.

US officials have also concluded that Adam Gadahn, an American who had served as a spokesman for the terror network, was killed in a separate American operation in January.

The White House says Farouq and Gadhan were not specifically targeted in the operations, nor did the US. have information indicating their presence at the sites.

US president Barack Obama has expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the operation.

Mr Obama said he took ``full responsibility'' for the operation that inadvertently killed an American and an Italian hostage held by al Qaida.

He added he profoundly regrets the deaths of Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto.

The president said the men were killed during a mission that targeted an al Qaida compound in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He says the mission was “fully consistent” with guidelines for conducting counter-terrorism missions in the region.

Mr Obama says there was no information showing the hostages were being held at the al Qaida compound.