Haftar Brokers Release of US Missionary Kidnapped in Niger
Eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar successfully brokered the release of American hostage Kevin Rideout on August 14, 2026. Rideout, an evangelical missionary kidnapped by an Islamic State affiliate in Niger in October 2025, was handed over to Libyan authorities in Benghazi late Thursday. The deal involved Malian intermediaries and reportedly included a ransom payment. This development positions Haftar as a central security broker in the Sahel, potentially influencing regional counter-terrorism cooperation.