Trump honors US service member killed in raid on al Qaeda headquarters in Yemen

President Donald Trump on Sunday honored a U.S. service member who was killed during a raid on the al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) headquarters in Yemen.

“Americans are saddened this morning with the news that a life of a heroic service member has been taken in our fight against the evil of radical Islamic terrorism,” Trump said in a statement. “The sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces, and the families they leave behind, are the backbone of the liberty we hold so dear as Americans, united in our pursuit of a safe nation and freer world.”

“My deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member,” he added. “I also pray for a quick and complete recovery for the brave service members who sustained injuries.”

{mosads}Three U.S. service members were wounded in the raid and another was hurt when a U.S. military aircraft made a hard landing nearby.

The U.S. military said 14 AQAP members were killed during Saturday’s raid. The Associated Press reported that three senior AQAP officials were among those killed.

Trump called the mission, the first counterterrorism strike of his presidency, a success, saying U.S. forces captured “important intelligence that will assist the U.S. in preventing terrorism against its citizens and people around the world.”