The attack in Niger earlier this month that left four U.S. Army soldiers dead derived partly from a “massive intelligence failure,” according to a report.
A senior congressional aide briefed on the ambush told NBC News lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees want to more know about the scope of the mission in Niger. According to the aide, there was no U.S. overhead surveillance, and a quick reaction force wasn’t available to assist the service members when things went wrong.
A 12-man team of primarily Green Berets was ambushed on Oct. 4 by 40 to 50 militants. Four soldiers were killed and another two were wounded. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said earlier this month the team was meeting with villagers as part of what was intended to be a routine patrol.
French aircraft responded to the ambush, and were overhead within 30 minutes, Mattis said
But the senior congressional aide told NBC News lawmakers have questions as to whether the troops were “intentionally delayed” in the village in Niger, where a meeting with tribal leaders lasted longer than anticipated. The aide said the troops were following men on motorcycles, which led them into the ambush.
Mattis met with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Friday to discuss the attack in Niger.
