Article

2018-03-06 Africa Subsaharan

Probe finds deadly Niger mission lacked proper approval

WASHINGTON (AP) ‐ A military investigation into the Niger attack that killed four American service members concludes the team didn’t get required senior command approval for their risky mission to capture a high-level Islamic State militant, several U.S. officials familiar with the report said. It doesn’t point to that failure as a cause of the deadly ambush.
Morant's grave at Church Street Cemetery.
Initial information suggested the Army Special Forces team set out on its October mission to meet local Nigerien leaders, only to be redirected to assist a second unit hunting for Doundou Chefou, a militant suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an American aid worker. Officials say it now appears the team went after Chefou from the onset, without outlining that intent to higher-level commanders.

As a result, commanders couldn’t accurately assess the mission’s risk, according to the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the results of the investigation before they’re publicly released. The finding will likely increase scrutiny on U.S. military activity in Africa, particularly the role of special operations forces who’ve been advising and working with local troops on the continent for years.

Four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien troops were killed Oct. 4 about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niamey, Niger’s capital, when they were attacked by as many as 100 Islamic State-linked militants traveling by vehicle and carrying small arms and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Two other American soldiers and eight Nigerien forces were wounded.

Posted by Besoeker 2018-03-06 09:06|| || Front Page|| [17 views ] Top
File under: Islamic State

#1 Nothing like blaming the dead now is there ?

Posted by Besoeker 2018-03-06 09:18|| 2018-03-06 09:18|| Front Page Top

#2 I'm so old I remember when that was called 'Initiative'.

Posted by Cesare 2018-03-06 09:29|| 2018-03-06 09:29|| Front Page Top

#3 Sure. Plane crash due to pilot error.

Posted by Skidmark 2018-03-06 09:31|| 2018-03-06 09:31|| Front Page Top

#4 Initial information suggested the Army Special Forces team set out on its October mission to meet local Nigerien leaders, only to be redirected to assist a second unit hunting for Doundou Chefou, a militant suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an American aid worker.

Redirected? Redirected by whom? Did they have overhead surveillance and area intelligence threat briefing for their 'primary' mission? Did the unit 'requiring assistance' have overhead surveillance, quick reaction force (QRF), etc ?

Aid worker? More on the "aid worker" please.

Posted by Besoeker 2018-03-06 10:15|| 2018-03-06 10:15|| Front Page Top

#5 This sounds alot like there's a bunch of REMF's yelling "It's wasn't my fault".

Posted by ed in texas 2018-03-06 10:43|| 2018-03-06 10:43|| Front Page Top

#6 when they were attacked by as many as 100 Islamic State-linked militants traveling by vehicle and carrying small arms and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

We've got 'em right where we want 'em, Captain!

Posted by BA 2018-03-06 12:56|| 2018-03-06 12:56|| Front Page Top

#7 Isis just released a propanda video that parts of it is supposedly from a US kia showing him and other Americans going down in this fire fight. Isis recovered the video from the helmet cam of one of the Americans who was kia.

Posted by Omeger Gray6606 2018-03-06 17:26|| 2018-03-06 17:26|| Front Page Top

#8 It's "higher" who redirects. Not the unit in question.
So the commanders need to be talking to whomever usurped their line of command. Presuming they can find some chump they can afford to throw under the bus.
And if you're going to "redirect", various supporting resources should be spun up to the appropriate ready state.

Posted by Richard Aubrey 2018-03-06 20:50|| 2018-03-06 20:50|| Front Page Top

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