[House Document 113-5]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



113th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 113-5


 
     NOTICE OF THE UNITED STATES INVOLVEMENT IN A RESCUE OPERATION

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

NOTICE OF THE UNITED STATES INVOLVEMENT IN A RESCUE OPERATION CONDUCTED 
                          BY FRANCE IN SOMALIA




  January 14, 2013.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                            The White House
                                      Washington, January 13, 2013.
Hon. John Boehner,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: On January 11, 2013, French forces 
conducted an operation in Somalia in which they attempted to 
rescue a French citizen being held hostage by al-Shabaab. 
United States forces provided limited technical support to the 
French forces in that operation, but took no direct part in the 
assault on the compound where it was believed the French 
citizen was being held hostage. United States combat aircraft 
briefly entered Somali airspace to support the rescue 
operation, if needed. These aircraft did not employ weapons 
during the operation. The U.S. forces that supported this 
operation left Somalia by approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern 
Standard Time on January 11, 2013.
    I directed U.S. forces to support this rescue operation in 
furtherance of U.S. national security interests, and pursuant 
to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign 
relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the 
Congress in this action.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Barack Obama.