Will spare no effort to hold terrorists accountable: Hagel

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel today said the US would spare no efforts to hold terrorists accountable, a day after the successful commando operation that resulted in the capture of a top al-Qaeda leader.

"These operations in Libya and Somalia send a strong message to the world that the United States will spare no effort to hold terrorists accountable, no matter where they hide or how long they evade justice," he said in a statement.

"We will continue to maintain relentless pressure on terrorist groups that threaten our people or our interests, and we will conduct direct action against them, if necessary, that is consistent with our laws and our values," Hagel said.

Over the weekend, US military personnel conducted targeted operations in Libya and Somalia, capturing al-Qaeda leader Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai.

Commending US forces who were involved in the planning and execution of these two operations, Hagel said this demonstrate the unparalleled precision, global reach, and capabilities of the United States military.

"As a result of the Libya operation, one of the world's most wanted terrorists was captured and is now in US custody," Hagel said.

"Abu Anas al Libi was designated as a global terrorist by Executive Order, was a subject of the US Rewards for Justice Program, and is on the UN Al-Qaeda sanctions list. He was also indicted for his alleged role in the 1998 US embassy bombings in Africa, and other plots to conduct attacks against US interests," Hagel said.

In a related statement, the White House said exceptional work was done by US military and intelligence agencies to successfully capture al Libi.

"The President has made clear our preference for capturing terrorist targets when possible, and that's exactly what we've done in order to elicit as much valuable intelligence as we can and bring a dangerous terrorist to justice," National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden said.

Also listed on the UN's Al-Qaeda Sanctions List, Libi is indicted in the Southern District of New York in connection with his alleged role in Al Qaeda's conspiracy to kill US nationals and to conduct attacks against US interests worldwide, which included Al-Qaeda plots to attack US forces stationed in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia, as well as the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, she said.