Three U.S. Army Special Forces were killed and two were wounded during an ambush of a joint patrol of U.S. and Nigerien forces along the Nigerien-Mali border Wednesday, U.S. Africa Command confirmed.
The deaths of three Army Green Berets are the first casualties from a mission in which U.S. Special Forces are providing training to Nigerien armed forces.
U.S. Africa Command put out a statement Wednesday evening confirming the attack but did not share any details on the incident.
“U.S. Africa Command can confirm reports that a joint U.S. and Nigerien patrol came under hostile fire in southwest Niger,” the U.S. Africa Command said. “We are working to confirm details on the incident and will have more information as soon as we can confirm facts on the ground.”
On Thursday, U.S. Africa Command confirmed the deaths, and said the two wounded U.S. soldiers were now in Germany.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that President Trump has been briefed on the situation in Niger, after Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews Wednesday evening following the president’s visit to Las Vegas.
U.S. Special Operations Forces have maintained a small presence in Niger to assist local troops to combat the Islamic State-affiliated Boko Haram and a branch of al Qaeda.
“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,” the U.S. Africa Command said. “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.”
Al Qaeda still exists near the Mali-Niger border even though the French have spearheaded a counterterrorism effort, Operation Barkhane, in 2014. This operation includes thousands of French troops, along with forces from Germany, Mali, Niger and other countries.
The U.S. is currently building a new drone base in Niger to reinforce counterterrorism measures.
This story was first published Wednesday night and was updated Thursday morning.
