US military probes possible changes after Niger attack — Mattis

TAMPA: US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday said the military is looking at possible adaptations following last week’s deadly ambush on a joint US-Niger patrol.

The Oct 4 attack near the Mali border, thought to have been carried out by a regional affi liate of the Islamic State group, resulted in the deaths of four US soldiers and at least four Nigerien troops.

“We will look at this and say was there some things we have to adapt to,” Mattis said.

“We are not complacent, we are going to be better,” he added.

Speaking to reporters as he traveled to a military headquarters in Florida, Mattis said French aircraft were on the scene of the attack within 30 minutes.

France maintains a 4,000-man mission in the region to shore up fragile Sahel countries against jihadists who have carried out a wave of bloody bombings, shootings and kidnappings. — AFP