Sources: US forces mounted unsuccessful mission to rescue kidnapped American U. in Afghanistan...

REPORT: One of the hostages is American; the other is Australian. It was not the first attempt by the U.S. military to rescue the two professors. The first mission was aborted when the American rescue force could not obtain White House approval for the mission amid concerns about the intelligence, according to three defense officials. They were in the air heading to the target area at the time and had to return to their base in Afghanistan.

When approval was granted by President Obama the next day, the American assault force headed back to the area where they believed the two hostages were being held and engaged an enemy force at a compound believed to contain the hostages.