Map of Somali piracy (Wikipedia commons)

The hostages, 32-year-old American Jessica Buchanan and 60-year-old Poul Hagen Thisted were working with the Danish Demining Group, a humanitarian aid organization, when they were kidnapped in Somalia in October 2011.

Buchanan and Thisted are at the Naval Air Station Sigonella, according to base public affairs officer Lt. Tim Page.

President Obama released a statement following the raid, which killed nine Somali pirates.

“On Monday, I authorized an operation to rescue Jessica Buchanan, an American citizen who was kidnapped and held against her will for three months in Somalia. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our Special Operations Forces, yesterday Jessica Buchanan was rescued and she is on her way home,” Obama said. “As Commander-in-Chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts.”

Somalia, which is among the poorest and most violent countries in the world, is embroiled in an internal conflict with a group of Al Qaeda-linked militants.

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