Why my brother ? Jordan Somers indirectly puts the question to al Qaeda militants in Yemen in a video message , in which he and his mother plead with them to let American Luke Somers go . The Islamists have threatened to kill the photojournalist who fell into their hands in September last year , if Washington does n't meet their demands . `` We have no explanation as to why Luke was targeted as a victim , and we currently do n't know why he is being held , '' Jordan Somers tells them . He wants his captors to believe that his brother is a good man who cares about Yemenis . `` He has made many lasting friends in Yemen , '' he says . Special forces raid . A raid by U.S. and Yemeni special forces last month that freed eight hostages could have also rescued Luke Somers , but a move by his captors prevented it . Then this week , al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula , or AQAP , released the video threatening his life and showing Somers pleading for it . Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi , who read a statement for al Qaeda in the video , did not name the demands the terrorist group expects the U.S. government to meet , but said that Washington knows what they are . Special forces planned the raid after al Qaeda militants were spotted transferring the hostages into pickups , `` chained and covered in blankets , '' according to a website associated with Yemen 's defense ministry . Militants drove them to a cave over 65 miles away from the town of Hajir al-Saiyer . U.S. and Yemeni special forces outfitted with night visors embarked on the mission about four miles from the cave . They encountered the kidnappers near its entrance ; a gun battle ensued , and the special forces killed all seven abductors . They also freed eight chained up hostages , who told them that militants had moved five more hostages to another location , according to the Yemeni defense ministry account . That included Somers . 'We mean no harm ' His brother Jordan asks the AQAP militants not to fault Somers or his family . `` He is not responsible for any actions that the U.S. government has taken . Please understand that we had no prior knowledge of the rescue attempt for Luke , and we mean no harm to anyone , '' Jordan Somers said . The Yemeni account did not mention the U.S. Special Forces , but a U.S. official confirmed their participation . CNN , at the request of the government , delayed reporting the information about the raid , so as not to endanger the search for Somers and the other hostages at that time . Somers appeared in the AQAP video asking for help and identifying himself . `` My name is Luke Somers . I 'm 33 years old . I was born in England , but I carry American citizenship and have lived in America for most of my life , '' he said . Mother 's plea . He was dressed in a nice shirt and at least appeared clean and healthy . This did not escape his mother . `` We note that you have taken good care of Luke , and he appears healthy . We thank you for that , '' Paula Somers says in the family 's response video to AQAP . `` Please show mercy and give us an opportunity to see our Luke again . He is all that we have , '' she says . She tells her son that the family is doing all it can to help him . They want to hold him safe in their arms again . More on detained Americans .
A U.S. and Yemeni special forces raid last week freed hostages but not the American . Luke Somers is a photojournalist who was captured in September 2013 . Special forces planned the raid , when AQAP militants were seen transferring hostages . The militants had split the hostages into two groups two days before the raid .