A classified Pentagon report argues poor training, complacency, and a culture of excessive risk were factors in the deaths of four U.S. soldiers in Niger last fall, a new report says.
Officials familiar with the report told the Wall Street Journal that it outlines multiple errors and negligence of military procedures and for the chain of command.
For example, the 6,000-page report described that at least one officer copied and pasted orders for a separate mission into the concept of operations for the October mission that ultimately resulted in the four deaths.
The report also provides instructions from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis about training, operational discipline, and a reinforcement of standard chain of command protocols that will cover most of the military. The instructions are an attempt to prevent similar mistakes that contributed to the Niger mission from occurring in the future.
Additionally, the Special Operations Command, U.S. Africa Command, and the Army will be provided roughly 10 “primary directives” from Mattis, who will then have four months to address the issues outlined in the report.
The report does not advise punishing anyone, according to the Journal, but the Army and the Special Operations Command may seek court martial charges and other punishment measures against those responsible.
The investigation was prompted after four U.S. soldiers were killed after U.S. and Nigerien forces were ambushed by approximately 50 Islamic State-affiliated fighters along the Niger-Mali border.
Family members of those killed are being briefed this week on the contents of the report. The widow of Sgt. La David Johnson will participate in a final military briefing with Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., next week.
Wilson was present when Johnson received a condolence call from President Trump last year and later accused him of being callous toward the widow during the call.
The U.S. has approximately 800 troops in Niger and 6,000 conducting missions throughout Africa.
