Analysis: Clive Fairweather on the job of special forces operators tackling hostage situations

Where there are hostages involved- particularly in a foreign country - mounting a rescue operation can only be absolutely the last resort. No special forces unit ever wants to get involved going into the unknown - which is what these situations are.

Even in the last few minutes or seconds, there is a huge risk of the hostage being shot.

Assuming you manage to find where the hostage is being held, even if you have plans of the house, you have no idea of how many other people, or even dogs, are there who might raise the alarm as you approach.

Say the person is being held two storeys up, then you have to use ladders to reach the hostage. Say you manage to sledge hammer your way through a window, what makes you so sure that you've got the correct room? Even if it is the right room, how can you be certain who the hostage is? You have probably seen a photograph, but there may be seven, eight or more people in that room. Perhaps they are all dressed in similar clothing. These questions have to be addressed in a fraction of a second. If you go in with guns blazing, there is no guarantee that the hostage will be spared from your fire. Even if you use stun grenades or thermal-imaging equipment at night, the recognition problem is absolutely paramount.

The chances are that the hostage may be shot by returning fire. There is also the possibility that the hostage may be shot by rescuing forces.

Frankly, the special forces, whether US or British, did extremely well to get so close to rescuing Ms Norgrove in such a sparse area as Kunar province.

We should not underestimate the intelligence problems that they have overcome to even find the building she was in.

But the fact they got so close this time will at least act as a reminder to her captors that they cannot necessarily do this with impunity.

• Clive Fairweather, former SAS commander, was second in command during the Iranian embassy siege