By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-live-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-of-staff-to-give-updates-on-u-s-operations-in-niger Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Top U.S. general says families, Americans deserve answers on Niger ambush World Updated on Oct 23, 2017 4:55 PM EDT — Published on Oct 23, 2017 3:28 PM EDT WASHINGTON — The top U.S. general says the American people, including the families of the fallen soldiers in Niger, deserve answers about this month’s deadly ambush. Gen. Joseph Dunford, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, says the four U.S. special operations forces died Oct. 4 amid a “complex situation” and a “difficult firefight.” Dunford says American forces have been in Niger intermittently for more than two decades. Some 800 U.S. service members are supporting a French-led mission to defeat the Islamic State, al-Qaida and Boko Haram in West Africa. Dunford acknowledges many questions remain about what happened near Niger’s Mali border. They include whether the U.S. had adequate intelligence and equipment for its operation, whether there a planning failure and why it took so long to recover one the bodies. PBS NewsHour will update this story as it develops. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The top U.S. general says the American people, including the families of the fallen soldiers in Niger, deserve answers about this month’s deadly ambush. Gen. Joseph Dunford, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, says the four U.S. special operations forces died Oct. 4 amid a “complex situation” and a “difficult firefight.” Dunford says American forces have been in Niger intermittently for more than two decades. Some 800 U.S. service members are supporting a French-led mission to defeat the Islamic State, al-Qaida and Boko Haram in West Africa. Dunford acknowledges many questions remain about what happened near Niger’s Mali border. They include whether the U.S. had adequate intelligence and equipment for its operation, whether there a planning failure and why it took so long to recover one the bodies. PBS NewsHour will update this story as it develops. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now