More Details Emerge On The Deaths Of 4 U.S. Special Forces Soldiers In Niger

Daily Mail: US official reveals it 'is likely four Green Berets killed in Niger were ambushed by dozens of ISIS militants in a surprise attack while on 'low risk' patrol with no aerial support'

* US official told CBS News October 4 patrol in Niger was considered low risk, and that's why Green Berets were not being protected from the air
* US and Nigerian soldiers were caught by surprise by 40-50 militants likely affiliated with ISIS in Greater Sahara
S Army Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black; Sgt La David Johnson; Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, and Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson lost their lives in the clash
* Johnson's family on Wednesday clashed with President Donald Trump over what he had allegedly told soldier's widow

Four Green Berets who were killed while on patrol on the Niger-Mali border earlier this month, along with four Nigerian soldiers, were allegedly caught by surprise by some four dozen militants linked to ISIS.

US officials have said US Army Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black; Sgt La David Johnson; Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, and Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson were among a dozen Green Berets traveling in unarmored trucks 120 miles north of Niger's capital of Niamey on October 4 when they were ambushed by 40 to 50 militants 'likely' linked to ISIS in Greater Sahara.

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More Details Emerge On The Deaths Of 4 U.S. Special Forces Soldiers In Niger

Green Berets killed in Niger were caught by surprise, U.S. official says -- CBS News
Behind the ISIS group that ambushed US forces in Niger -- ABC News
Private contractor used to evacuate US forces in Niger ambush -- CNN
US has drones and hundreds of troops in Niger. Here's why -- CNN
US special forces deaths in Niger lift veil on shadow war against Islamists in Sahel -- The Guardian
Why US troops are in Niger -- ABC News

A Few More Details Emerge On The Ambush That Left Four U.S. Army Soldiers Dead In Niger

A grainy picture of one of Berry Aviation's Twin Otters at an unknown location. Berry Aviation

Warzone/The Drive: US Military Reveals Contractors Flew to the Rescue in Niger, but Little Else

Details about an ambush in the West Africa country and what American personnel were doing there remain scant. Here's what we know.

Additional details that have emerged regarding an ambush in southwest Niger that left four U.S. Army soldiers dead continue to prompt more questions than they answer about the incident. The top American headquarters for military operations on the continent, U.S. Africa Command, has now confirmed that private contractors helped casualties evacuate the area afterwards, but has again declined to elaborate on the U.S.-Nigerien patrol's overall objectives or who is responsible for the attack.

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WNU Editor: The role that contractors play when supporting U.S. military operations and deployments in far-away places has always been an under-reported stories. At least in this case we have a little insight in how they are employed in assisting U.S. interests when things go wrong. The only criticism that I have of this article is that it telegraphs to U.S. enemies abroad on what is the U.S. medical response time from these contractors when things go wrong (i.e. 3 hours .... 1 hour if given a heads-up).

Body Of Fourth U.S. Special Forces Soldier Found in Niger

CNN: Body of missing US service member recovered in Niger

(CNN)The body of a US service member who went missing following a deadly ambush Wednesday in southwest Niger has been recovered, multiple US officials told CNN Friday.

The discovery of the missing US service member in a remote area of the northwestern African country by Nigerien troops comes nearly 48 hours after he was first discovered to be missing in the wake of the attack.

The recovery of the missing US service member raised the number of US troops killed in Wednesday's attack to four.

The Pentagon later confirmed the recovery.

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WNU Editor: Our prayers are with the family and loved ones.

More News On The Body Of A Fourth U.S. Special Forces Soldier Found in Niger

Fourth US Soldier Is Found Dead After Ambush in Niger -- New York Times
Body of US service member recovered in Niger, raising ambush death toll to four -- Washington Post
Pentagon Says Fourth US Soldier Killed in Niger Ambush -- U.S. News & World Report
4th US soldier dead after attack in Niger, US officials say -- USA TODAY
Fourth US troop confirmed dead in Niger attack -- The Hill
4th US service member killed in Niger ambush -- ABC News
Fourth US soldier was killed in Niger ambush -- Fox News
Niger ambush, deaths highlight US Africa military mission creep -- Reuters
What You Need To Know About Why US Special Operations Forces Are In Niger (Updated) -- The Drive

Niger Has Become A Key U.S. Counter-Terrorism Partner In Africa

Ryan Lenora Brown and Belinda O'Donnell, Foreign Policy: The Un-Freedom Agenda

The rise of ISIS, al Qaeda, and Boko Haram has turned Niger from a backwater into a key U.S. counterterrorism partner. So why is it becoming more authoritarian?

JOHANNESBURG and WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Feb. 9, authorities in Niger arrested a woman they claimed was a threat to national security.

She wasn’t a military officer plotting a coup, a populist leader inciting unrest, or even an opposition politician challenging the president. Far from it, Hamsou Garba is one of Niger’s better-known singers, a vivacious pop star with an affinity for glamorous jackets, synchronized choreography, and reflective lyrics. And yet she was charged with inciting civil disobedience and briefly put behind bars.

“Hama Amadou is a second Mandela,” Garba had sung in a popular single released before the first round of Niger’s presidential elections on Feb. 21, referring to the country’s leading opposition candidate. “Hama Amadou is Niger’s Mandela.”

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WNU Editor: For more details on Niger's problems, this DW post says it all .... Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou vows to fight jihadists and poverty in second term (DW).

President Obama: U.S. Troops Deployed To Niger

Obama Deploys Drones, US Military Personnel To Niger -- NBC

President Barack Obama has deployed American military personnel and drone aircraft to the African country of Niger, where they could be used to support a French counterterrorism mission in neighboring Mali.

Defense Department officials told NBC News that a first wave will include two Raptor surveillance drones and 250 to 300 military personnel, including remote pilots and security and maintenance crews. They are expected to arrive soon.

The officials stressed that the drones are meant for surveillance only. The White House has faced criticism for a legal memo concluding that the U.S. government can use drones to kill American citizens overseas in certain cases.

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More News On U.S. Soldiers being Sent To Niger

U.S. troops arrive in Niger to set up drone base -- Washington Post
Obama tells Congress U.S. military personnel arrive in Niger -- Reuters
U.S. Sends Limited Troops To Niger; Will Assist In Intelligence-Gathering -- NPR
Obama says 100 US military personnel deployed to African nation of Niger -- Washington Post/AP
Obama orders more U.S. forces to Niger -- Washington Times
100 US Troops Are Setting Up Near Mali To Support French Fighters -- Business Insider
Mali conflict: US deploys 100 troops to neighbour Niger -- BBC
US deploys troops to Niger -- RT

My Comment: No public debate. No discussion. U.S. forces are now being sent to Niger to monitor .... and I am willing to wager .... launch drone strikes and (maybe) ground operations and islamic radicals in the region.

Niger Agrees To Host U.S. Drone Base

US Signs Deal With Niger To Operate Military Drones In West African State -- The Guardian

Mali Islamists' war reveals paucity of west's intelligence on Sahel and Sahara but Pentagon's move could backfire, analysts warn.

The US government appears close to opening a new front in its fight against Islamist militants by planning a new base for surveillance drones in the west African country of Niger.

American forces are already assisting a French offensive in neighbouring Mali that is aimed at recapturing the country's northern desert territory from the hands of Islamist rebels.

But on Monday the US signed a military agreement with Niger that paves the way legally for US forces to operate on its soil and prompted a series of reports in the US media that the Pentagon was keen on opening a new drones base there.

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More News On The US Establishing A Drone Base In Northwest Africa

Niger gives green light to U.S. drone deployment: source -- Reuters
U.S. to establish military presence next to Mali -- CNN
U.S. Drone Base In Africa Approved By Niger -- Huffington Post
U.S. plans to add drone base in West Africa -- Washington Post
Official: U.S. Military Plans Drone Base Near Mali -- Defense News/AFP
US to establish new drone base in northwest Africa: officials -- Global Post
Planned US Drone Base Near Mali Marks Latest American Expansion In Africa -- Business Insider
U.S. wants Africa drone base -- UPI
U.S. to build drone base in Africa to combat terrorists: report -- Xinhuanet
US planning for new drone base in Northwest Africa, officials say -- FOX News
Official: US considers setting up drone base in North Africa, Niger a strong possibility -- Washington Post/AP
US Military Plans Drone Base in Northwest Africa -- Voice of America
US considering new drone base in Africa - report -- RT
U.S. likely to establish new drone base in northwest Africa -- Salon
DOD eyes potential drone base in Africa -- Politico
U.S. Drone Base Would Make Africa the New Home of the War on Terror -- The Atlantic