3 Green Berets killed in Niger

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Killing of 3 Green Berets in Niger puts a spotlight on U.S. counter-terrorism efforts

The three commandos were killed Wednesday in southwestern Niger, a region notorious for drug smuggling, human trafficking and myriad extremist militias, including allies of Al Qaeda and Islamic State.
The Green Berets were on a training operation with Nigerien forces when they were ambushed. Five Nigerien soldiers were killed and two U.S. commandos were injured.

The U.S. Africa Command based in Stuttgart, Germany, said the U.S. forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerian armed forces in their efforts against violent extremists.

Niger, an impoverished, arid country in Francophone West Africa, is one of the most strategic locations in U.S. counter-terrorism operations in Africa, sandwiched between Nigeria to the south, where an Islamic State affiliate, Boko Haram, has been fighting to establish Islamic rule, and Mali to the west, where multiple extremist militias are present.