Violent extremist organizations are waging war across Africa, and the United States is leveraging NATO and European partnerships to contain the threat and prevent attacks on the U.S. homeland, Army commanders said Tuesday.

Even so, violence against NATO partners operating in the region has increased. For instance, on Monday, the Italian ambassador to Congo was killed in a roadside ambush. Earlier this year, French troops who were part of the U.S.-supported Operation Barhkane in the Sahel lost their lives in extremist attacks.