Niger mission lacked approval

WASHINGTON -- A military investigation into the Niger attack in which four American service members died concludes the team didn't get required senior command approval for their risky mission to capture a high-level Islamic State militant.

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 the 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 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.

The investigation finds no single point of failure leading to the attack, which occurred after the soldiers learned Chefou had left the area, checked his last known location and started for home. It also draws no conclusion about whether villagers in Tongo Tongo, where the team stopped for water and supplies, alerted IS militants to American forces in the area. Still, questions remain about whether higher-level commanders would have approved or adjusted the mission or provided additional resources to repel the ambush.

Army Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, wouldn't comment on the investigation, beyond saying it's now complete and being reviewed by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other senior leaders.

The other U.S. officials said the final report could have consequences for U.S. military operations in Africa.

Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the Africa Command's leader, is expected to recommend greater oversight to ensure proper mission approval and risk assessment, they said. Waldhauser isn't expected to scale back missions in Africa or remove commanders' authorities to make decisions.

Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Waldhauser said once Mattis signs off on the report, the families of the four fallen soldiers will be briefed on the results and then senior leaders will talk to Congress about it.