Sgt. La David Johnson’s body was recovered nearly a mile away from the primary location of the Oct. 4 ambush in Niger that took the lives of four U.S. soldiers.
Nigerien troops found Johnson’s body in a remote area of northwestern Africa nearly a mile away from the attack scene, four unnamed administration officials told CNN. While the time it took for Johnson’s body to be found – 48 hours after the attack – was already reported, the distance from the attack was not previously known.
The Pentagon continues to search for answers regarding how and why Johnson had been separated from the 12-member team. However, the Pentagon has maintained the search for Johnson began immediately.
“The U.S. military does not leave its troops behind, and I would just ask that you not question the actions of the troops who were caught in the firefight and question whether or not they did everything they could in order to bring everyone out at once,” Secretary of Defense James Mattis told reporters Thursday.
As U.S. military officials are piecing together a timeline of how the attack transpired, lawmakers have condemned the Pentagon and the White House for not providing more clarity on the matter.
The U.S. has maintained a force in Niger to assist the nation to combat several terrorist groups in southwest Niger.
Officials said the joint U.S.-Nigerien patrol stopped at a village and engaged with local leaders as they were picking up supplies. It is not clear whether villagers intentionally held up the troops from leaving to allow the attackers to prepare the ambush.The White House announced on Tuesday that President Trump has spoken over the phone with all four of the families of the members of the U.S. Army Special Forces killed in Niger.
