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 . The Pentagon said it had no information about any civilian casualties or damage to property from the raid. The militants had split the hostages into two groups two days before the raid .