Washington: The US will do "everything" to rescue American hostages in any part of the world, the White House on Monday said, adding that a failed military operation to rescue one of its kidnapped citizens should serve as a warning to militants.
"This should be taken by militants around the world as a clear sign of the President's (Barack Obama's) resolve to do everything possible to rescue Americans who are being held hostage anywhere around the globe," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
He said: "Militants or extremist organizations that decide to take the risk of taking an American hostage are put on notice today."
Earnest justified the decision of President Obama to give approval for a military action to rescue one of its citizens kidnapped by al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula in Yemen.
"We saw from the video, it is apparent that these militants were planning to kill Mr Somers on Saturday. That's why this raid was executed on very short notice on Friday night."
"There was a very limited window for action," he said.
The operation on Saturday came two days after 33-year-old Luke Somers' kidnappers had issued a video in which they threatened to kill him within 72 hours.
Somers was kidnapped in September 2013.
