Nearly 40 missing or endangered children were rescued by U.S. federal and state agents during a law enforcement bust in the state of Georgia, authorities said.

On Thursday, the U.S. Marshals Service said 13 missing children had been found, while an additional 26 endangered children were rescued over a two-week operation in the cities of Atlanta and Macon.

Authorities said the children were considered to be "some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases", adding that some were likely victims of child sex trafficking, exploitation, abuse and also had medical and mental health conditions.

Nine people were arrested on charges including sex trafficking, parental kidnapping, as well as registered sex offender and weapons violations.  The suspects were not identified. 

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