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.