Three U.S. Army Green Berets were killed and two more wounded in the southern Niger, while a group of about 10 to 12 American military men were accompanying Nigerien soldiers on a regular patrol late Wednesday. L

• Site of attack

According to New York Times, the ambush occurred about 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Niamey, close to the border with Mali in an area where Al Qaeda in the Maghreb and other ISIS affiliated groups have been active, a US official confirmed.

• Mission

According to the official, the U.S. personnel who came under attack were part of the effort to help the Nigerien military improve their counter-terrorism capabilities, and the wounded Americans were subsequently taken to Niamey, Niger’s capital, for medical treatment.

• Washington’s awareness

However, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has confirmed that, President Trump was briefed on the attack by John Kelly, the White House Chief of Staff.

• First of its kind

The deaths mark the first American casualties in a mission conducted mainly from two drone bases of Niamey and Agardez, northern Niger where the United States Special Forces have provided training and security assistance to the Nigerien armed forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information

Adegbite Adedotun