3 Green Berets killed in op vs. Qaeda in Niger

THREE U.S. ARMY Special Forces commandos were killed and two others were wounded while on patrol in Niger on Wednesday, U.S. officials said.

The commandos were on a joint U.S.-Niger patrol when they came under attack north of Niamey — Niger’s capital — near the border with Mali, the U.S. Africa Command said.

The soldiers, all Green Berets, were likely attacked by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb militants, U.S. officials said.

The two wounded soldiers were taken to the capital in stable condition, authorities said.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the incident publicly.

American forces are in the subSaharan country to provide the Niger Armed Forces with training and security, the Africa Command said.

Niger’s military is using the U.S. help to fight violent extremists.

President Trump has been briefed on the Niger attack, the White House said.