Operation Juniper Shield - Niger

American-intervention in Niger refers to the deployment of special forces and drones both unarmed and armed by the United States Military and CIA in support of the Nigerien Government and French Forces in counter-terrorism operations against militant groups in Niger, Libya and Mali as part of Operation Juniper Shield.[11] The special forces deployment in Niger and in the greater West Africa region involves the training of host nation partner forces, enhancement of host nation security assistance efforts and to conduct counter-terrorism and surveillance and reconnaissance missions with host nation partner forces.[12] The deployment of drones by the Air Force and CIA is to assist American and Nigerien forces in counter-terrorism operations, to monitor routes used by militants in Niger into neighboring nations and to assist ongoing operations in Libya.[13][14][15]

Operation Juniper Shield - Niger
Part of Operation Juniper Shield
US and Nigerien soldiers training in April 2018
Date February 5, 2013 – ongoing Location Niger and West Africa Status Ongoing
Belligerents
United States US Army Special Forces US Air Force CIA In support of:  Niger  France Training:  Australia  Belgium  Italy	ISIL ISIL-West Africa Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
Commanders and leaders
Donald Trump Jim Mattis Thomas D. Waldhauser James C. Vechery	Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi Abubakar Shekau Abu Musab al-Barnawi Doundou Chefou
Strength
800 personnel[1]	ISIL-West Africa: ~3,500 fighters (April 2018) ISGS: ~300 fighters[2]
Casualties and losses
5 killed (1 non hostile)[3][4] 4 injured (2 non hostile)[5] 5 killed, 8 wounded (While operating with the United States)[6] 1 killed (non hostile) (while operating with the United States)[7]	32 militants killed in two separate attacks [8][9] Unknown killed in other attacks between 2015-17[10] Unknown killed by drone strikes in Southern Libya At least 1 weapons cache

The deployment of US troops in Niger had been largely unreported until an ambush outside the village of Tongo Tongo by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara militants left four American and four Nigerien soldiers dead.[16][17][18] The ambush created controversy in the public and media with many people asking as to why the US had so many troops across Africa and specifically Niger which at the time had more than 800 US personal in country.[19] In 2018 the Trump Administration and the United States Africa Command laid out plans to withdraw around 25% of all US Military forces in Africa with around 10% withdrawing from West Africa so they could focus on threats from Russia and China while still remaining in the area.[20][21]

Background

On February 5, 2013 the United States and Government of Niger signed a Status of forces agreement allowing the US to be able to operate unarmed drones to assist French Forces in Mali during Operation Serval.[22][23] Later that month president Barack Obama sent 150 troops to Niger. Later in 2015 the United States and Niger signed a military agreement so that both countries could combat terrorism together. Since then United States Army Special Forces have deployed to Niger and other West Africa nations to train and to conduct operations with local forces.

French Dassault Rafale refuels from a US KC-135 Stratotanker over Africa on March 17, 2013 during Operation Serval

Attacks

Between 2015 through 2017 American personal had been involved in at least 10 firefights while operating with partner Nigeriens. In these past firefights excluding the October 2017 ambush no American or Nigerien personal were killed or wounded. In some of the attacks enemy combatants had been killed with at least 32 killed in the October and December 2017 incidents.

Tongo Tongo ambush

On October 4, 2017 a joint American and Nigerien force of 46 personal and eight vehicles was ambushed outside the village of Tongo Tongo by an estimated force of over 50 militants with around 20 motorcycles and 12 technicals from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). During the firefight which lasted for more than three hours, four American, four Nigerien and at least 21 ISGS militants died and eight Nigerien and two Americans including the teams commander were wounded. The battle came to an end after French Mirage 2000 fighter jets and helicopters carrying 53 special forces and three Nigerien response elements of at least 100 soldiers and a helicopter reached the village, however the fight was over as the enemy had departed the area.

December 2017 attack

On December 6, 2017 two months after the October ambush a joint force of American Green Berets and Nigerien soldiers were attacked by ISIL-West Africa militants in the Chad Lake basin Region. During the firefight 11 militants died including two wearing suicide vests, one weapons cache was also destroyed during the operation. No American or Nigerien soldiers were killed or wounded.[9]

Other incidents

On February 2, 2017 US Green Beret Shawn Thomas was killed and another injured in a non hostile vehicle accident in Niger.[24]

On December 9, 2018 a French soldier was killed and a US service member injured in a car accident in Northern Niger. Both the French and US militaries are probing the incident as drinking while driving was suspected.[25]

References

1. https://theintercept.com/2018/07/26/us-special-operations-africa-green-berets-navy-seals/
2. https://www.lawfareblog.com/us-military-operational-activity-sahel
3. Callimachi, Rukmini; Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric; Blinder, Alan; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (February 17, 2018). "'An Endless War': Why 4 U.S. Soldiers Died in a Remote African Desert" – via NYTimes.com.
4. Myers, Meghann (August 7, 2017). "Army: Green Beret dies in non-combat accident in Niger". Army Times.
5. Myers, Kyle Rempfer, Meghann (December 14, 2018). "US special operations soldier injured, French troop killed in car crash in Africa". Army Times.
6. "Embuscade au Niger mercredi: 4 soldats nigériens tués et 8 blessés". Slate Afrique.
7. Africa, News (December 10, 2018). "Niger: French soldier killed in road accident".
8. "New details from Niger ambush: when US troops sensed something wrong". ABC News. October 23, 2017.
9. "US, Nigerien troops kill 11 ISIS militants in previously undisclosed mission". Stars and Stripes.
10. Murphy, Mike. "U.S. troops involved in at least 10 undisclosed firefights in West Africa: report". MarketWatch.
11. "Deciphering the new CIA drone base in Niger". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
12. "Why US troops are in Niger". ABC News. October 23, 2017.
13. Walsh, Declan; Schmitt, Eric (March 25, 2018). "U.S. Strikes Qaeda Target in Southern Libya, Expanding Shadow War There" – via NYTimes.com.
14. https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2018-09-11/deciphering-the-new-cia-drone-base-in-niger
15. https://www.cfr.org/blog/presence-lethal-us-drones-niger-expanding
16. Sisk, Richard (May 11, 2018). "How They Fell: Army Team 'Fought to the End' in Niger Ambush". Military.com.
17. Leithead, Alastair (May 11, 2018). "US Niger ambush: How raft of failures ended in death" – via www.bbc.com.
18. Browne, Ryan (May 11, 2018). "Military investigation finds series of failures led to deadly Niger ambush - CNNPolitics". Cnn.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
19. "The Military Doesn't Advertise It, But U.S. Troops Are All Over Africa". NPR.org.
20. Browne, Ryan (November 15, 2018). "US to reduce number of troops in Africa - CNNPolitics". Cnn.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
21. Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric (August 1, 2018). "U.S. Prepares to Reduce Troops and Shed Missions in Africa" – via NYTimes.com.
22. "US sends 100 armed troops to Niger". February 22, 2013 – via www.bbc.com.
23. Crawford, Jamie (February 7, 2013). "U.S. to base surveillance drones in Niger, ambassador says - CNN". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
24. https://www.stripes.com/news/special-forces-soldier-dies-in-accident-in-niger-1.453451
25. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/12/12/us-military-probes-niger-crash-killed-french-soldier.html