Obama Takes Responsibility for Recent Deaths of Al Qaeda Hostages in Pakistan

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke out Thursday in regard to the two hostages being held by Al Qaeda who were accidentally killed in January following a counterterrorism drone strike.

The president took responsibility for the drone attack in Pakistan in January that killed American aid worker Warren Weinstein, who had been a hostage of Al Qaeda's since 2011, and Italian national Giovanni Lo Porto, who had been a hostage of the terrorist organization since 2012.

Speaking from the White House, the president expressed "grief and condolences" to the families of the deceased hostages.

"I profoundly regret what happened," Obama said during a Thursday morning press conference.

"As a husband and as a father, I cannot begin to imagine the anguish that the Weinstein and Lo Porto families are feeling today," Obama continued, adding "I know there's nothing I can ever say or do to ease their heartache."

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said earlier Thursday that the president "takes full responsibility for these operations and believes it is important to provide the American people with as much information as possible about our counterterrorism operations, particularly when they take the lives of fellow citizens."

Elaine Weinstein, the widow of the American hostage killed in January, released a statement saying that although she is hoping to receive more information regarding her husband's death following an investigation, she believes Al Qaeda is ultimately to blame for the loss of her loved one.

"But those who took Warren captive over three years ago bear ultimate responsibility," Elaine Weinstein said. "I can assure you that he would still be alive and well if they had allowed him to return home after his time abroad working to help the people of Pakistan."