There are early reports coming out of Niger that a squadron of U.S. Special Forces has been ambushed and there are possible fatalities on our side, as well as with the Nigerian troops accompanying them.
Breaking: Joint US-Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger - @USAfricaCommand confirms to CNN
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) October 4, 2017
More from Reuters:
A joint patrol of U.S. and Niger troops came under attack in southwest Niger on Wednesday, a spokesman for U.S. Africa Command confirmed after Radio France International (RFI) reported a lethal ambush near the Niger/Mali border.
“We can confirm reports that a joint U.S. and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger,” said a spokesman for U.S. Africa Command. He did not comment on RFI’s report that several U.S. soldiers had died in the attack.
Here’s the full statement from U.S. Africa Command:
Update #1: U.S. Africa Command Statement on Situation in Niger – https://t.co/auCaE1sc8N pic.twitter.com/b2zqpqzlru
— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) October 4, 2017
Update #1: U.S. Africa Command can confirm reports that a joint U.S. and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger. We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground.
U.S. Forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts, in their efforts to target violent extremist organizations in the region. One aspect of that is training, advising and assisting the Nigeriens in order to increase their ability to bring stability and security to their people.
We’ll update as more information is available.
UPDATE:
It looks like the reports of fatalities are true:
Three Army Green Berets were said to have been killed in the attack and two others wounded.
Officials told the Associated Press that the commandos were likely targeted by al Qaeda’s North African branch, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
The deaths mark the first time that American soldiers have died while training armed forces in Niger.
The US military has been in the country providing training and security assistance to Nigerien soldiers following the rise of the ISIS-affiliated Boko Haram terror group and al Qaeda.
Awful. And yet another example of the sacrifices the U.S. military makes to keep the world safe.