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2 Green Berets also wounded in ambush
The Associated Press
Posted: Oct 04, 2017 9:09 PM ET
Last Updated: Oct 04, 2017 9:09 PM ET
U.S. officials said three U.S. army special operations commandos were killed Wednesday and two others were wounded when they came under fire in southwest Niger.
The officials said the two wounded were taken to Niamey, the capital, and are in stable condition. The officials were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.
The officials said the commandos, who were Green Berets, were likely attacked by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb militants.
In a statement, U.S. Africa Command said the forces were with a joint U.S. and Nigerian patrol north of Niamey, near the Mali border, when they came under hostile fire.
Africa Command said the U.S. forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Niger Armed Forces in their efforts against violent extremists.
Radio France International first reported the lethal ambush near the Niger/Mali border.
The White House said President Donald Trump was notified about the attack Wednesday night as he flew aboard Air Force One from Las Vegas to Washington.
With files from Reuters
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