Haftar Helps Broker Release of American Hostage Held by ISIS Affiliate

Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar helped broker the release of an American hostage held by an Islamic State affiliate in West Africa’s Sahel region, according to four sources familiar with the negotiations.

Kevin Rideout, a pilot working for the Christian missionary organization Serving in Mission, was transferred to eastern Libyan authorities late Thursday. The previously undisclosed involvement of Libya highlights Haftar’s growing influence as a regional security intermediary in the Sahel and his efforts to strengthen relations with the Trump administration.

Rideout was kidnapped in Niger in October while traveling to the airport in the capital, Niamey. He was reportedly taken to Niger’s western Tillaberi region, where militants affiliated with Islamic State and al Qaeda have been active.

Details surrounding the terms of Rideout’s release remain unclear. One source said the Libyan side paid a ransom, although no additional information about the payment was provided. It is not known whether anything else was exchanged to secure his freedom.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment, while the White House did not immediately address Haftar’s reported role. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the United States looked forward to welcoming Rideout home. Eastern Libyan authorities were also unavailable for immediate comment.

Securing Rideout’s release had become a major U.S. priority in the Sahel. Earlier this year, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on senior Malian government officials as part of efforts to obtain access to Mali’s airspace while searching for the American pilot. Officials had believed for months that Rideout might have been moved into Mali.

Two sources said the latest negotiations with the Islamic State affiliate were led by Cherif Ould Tahar, a Malian Arab businessman known to have connections with regional armed groups and smuggling networks. Tahar could not immediately be reached for comment.

How Rideout was transferred from his captors to eastern Libyan authorities, including the route used to bring him to Libya, remains unclear.