Ingrid Betancourt Rescued

A Colombian military operation on July 2, 2008, led to the rescue of Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt from the terrorist organization FARC. The operation also freed three Americans and 11 other hostages.¹

Fast Facts

1. No one injured in the operation²
2. 11 Colombian police officers and soldiers rescued
3. Three Americans also rescued: Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes¹
4. Americans were civilian contractors with Northrop Grumman¹
5. Approximately 750 hostages held by FARC in South American jungles¹
6. Operation commended by John McCain, who was visiting Colombia at the time³
7. Reunited with children on June 3, 2008 in France⁴

Ingrid Betancourt

1. Born: December 25, 1961
2. Birthplace: Bogota, Colombia
3. Citizen of France
4. Served in the Colombian Senate from 1998 until her kidnapping
5. Kidnapped on February 23, 2002
6. Ran for presidency of Colombia in 2002
7. Reports had indicated Betancourt was experiencing health problems⁵

Farc Rebels Fooled

The Colombian soldiers who rescued Betancourt posed as aid workers. They told the rebels they were going to transport the captives to the Farc commander's camp. The soldiers picked up the hostages in helicopters, which really belonged to the army.⁶

Betancourt did not realize she had been rescued until she saw her captor lying naked and blindfolded on the floor of the helicopter.⁶

Ingrid Betancourt Quotes

"Nirvana, paradise..that must be very similar to what I feel at this moment...It was because of them that I kept up my will to get out of that jungle."⁴—Ingrid Betancourt

"The last time I saw my son, Lorenzo was a little kid and I could carry him around...I told them, they're going to have to put up with me now, because I'm going to be stuck to them like chewing gum."⁴—Ingrid Betancourt

Captivity

Betancourt was taken captive during her term as a senator in Columbia. She was kidnapped from her car along with her aide while campaigning for president. During her time in captivity, several videos of Betancourt have been released by FARC. In the last video, released in November 2007, Betancourt appeared very sick.⁶ It was this video that prompted French officials to urge that measures be taken for her release.¹

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