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| US soldier killed in Niger ambush was not captured, military report finds | US soldier killed in Niger ambush was not captured, military report finds |
| (12 days later) | |
| Investigation determines La David Johnson, whose death led to a political squabble involving Donald Trump, was killed by enemy fire as he fled the attack | |
| Associated Press in Washington | |
| Sun 17 Dec 2017 18.59 GMT | |
| Last modified on Wed 3 Jan 2018 12.36 GMT | |
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| An American soldier who was killed in an ambush in Niger with three comrades but whose body was only recovered days later was not captured alive by the enemy or executed at close range, the Associated Press has learned, based on the conclusion of a military investigation. | An American soldier who was killed in an ambush in Niger with three comrades but whose body was only recovered days later was not captured alive by the enemy or executed at close range, the Associated Press has learned, based on the conclusion of a military investigation. |
| Dispelling a swirl of rumors about the death of Sgt La David Johnson, 25, of Miami Gardens, Florida, the report determined that he was killed by enemy rifle and machine gun fire as he fled the attack by an offshoot of the Islamic State group about 120 miles north of Niamey, the capital of Niger. The attack took place on 4 October Johnson’s body was recovered two days later. | Dispelling a swirl of rumors about the death of Sgt La David Johnson, 25, of Miami Gardens, Florida, the report determined that he was killed by enemy rifle and machine gun fire as he fled the attack by an offshoot of the Islamic State group about 120 miles north of Niamey, the capital of Niger. The attack took place on 4 October Johnson’s body was recovered two days later. |
| Johnson’s death led to a political squabble between Donald Trump and a Democratic congresswoman from Florida after Trump told Johnson’s pregnant widow in a phone call her husband “knew what he signed up for”. | Johnson’s death led to a political squabble between Donald Trump and a Democratic congresswoman from Florida after Trump told Johnson’s pregnant widow in a phone call her husband “knew what he signed up for”. |
| Frederica Wilson was riding with Johnson’s family to meet the body and heard the call on speakerphone. The spat grew to include Trump’s chief of staff, the retired marine general John Kelly, who called Wilson an “empty barrel”. | Frederica Wilson was riding with Johnson’s family to meet the body and heard the call on speakerphone. The spat grew to include Trump’s chief of staff, the retired marine general John Kelly, who called Wilson an “empty barrel”. |
| US officials familiar with the findings of the report spoke on condition of anonymity to describe details of an investigation that has not been finalized or publicly released. | US officials familiar with the findings of the report spoke on condition of anonymity to describe details of an investigation that has not been finalized or publicly released. |
| A 12-member army special forces unit was accompanying 30 Nigerien soldiers when they were attacked in a densely wooded area by as many as 50 militants traveling by vehicle and carrying small arms and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. | A 12-member army special forces unit was accompanying 30 Nigerien soldiers when they were attacked in a densely wooded area by as many as 50 militants traveling by vehicle and carrying small arms and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. |
| The officials said Johnson was returning fire as he and two Nigerien soldiers tried to escape, but was hit as many as 18 times from a distance by a volley of machine gun rounds. | The officials said Johnson was returning fire as he and two Nigerien soldiers tried to escape, but was hit as many as 18 times from a distance by a volley of machine gun rounds. |
| Four US soldiers and four Nigerien troops were killed. Two American and eight Nigerien troops were wounded. | Four US soldiers and four Nigerien troops were killed. Two American and eight Nigerien troops were wounded. |
| The bodies of three US Green Berets were located on the day of the attack, but not Johnson’s . The gap in time led to questions about whether Johnson was killed in the assault and not found, or if he was taken away by the enemy. | The bodies of three US Green Berets were located on the day of the attack, but not Johnson’s . The gap in time led to questions about whether Johnson was killed in the assault and not found, or if he was taken away by the enemy. |
| According to the officials, a medical examination concluded that Johnson was hit by fire from M-4 rifles and Soviet-made heavy machine guns. It is believed he died in the attack. | According to the officials, a medical examination concluded that Johnson was hit by fire from M-4 rifles and Soviet-made heavy machine guns. It is believed he died in the attack. |
| The officials said Johnson was found under thick scrub brush, where he had tried to take cover. There were no indications he was shot at close range, or had been bound or taken prisoner, as several media reports have suggested. | The officials said Johnson was found under thick scrub brush, where he had tried to take cover. There were no indications he was shot at close range, or had been bound or taken prisoner, as several media reports have suggested. |
| US Africa Command began its investigation with a team headed by Roger Cloutier, the command’s chief of staff. The team visited locations in Niger to collect evidence and information about the attack and will soon submit a draft of Cloutier’s report to Thomas Waldhauser, head of Africa Command. | US Africa Command began its investigation with a team headed by Roger Cloutier, the command’s chief of staff. The team visited locations in Niger to collect evidence and information about the attack and will soon submit a draft of Cloutier’s report to Thomas Waldhauser, head of Africa Command. |
| Waldhauser could ask for additional information. The final report is expected to be released next month. | Waldhauser could ask for additional information. The final report is expected to be released next month. |
| The officials familiar with the report’s conclusions said that Johnson and two Nigerien soldiers tried to get to a vehicle to escape but were unable to do so, became separated from the others and were shot as they were running for safety. | The officials familiar with the report’s conclusions said that Johnson and two Nigerien soldiers tried to get to a vehicle to escape but were unable to do so, became separated from the others and were shot as they were running for safety. |
| The report concluded that Johnson got the farthest away, seeking cover in the brush. Officials said there were a number of enemy shells around his body, and evidence that he appeared to fight to the end. His boots and other equipment were later stolen, but he was still wearing his uniform. | The report concluded that Johnson got the farthest away, seeking cover in the brush. Officials said there were a number of enemy shells around his body, and evidence that he appeared to fight to the end. His boots and other equipment were later stolen, but he was still wearing his uniform. |
| As news of the ambush came out, the US military sent in rescue teams to search for Johnson, not making his status public in the hope he might have been in hiding. The Pentagon only acknowledged that he was missing after his body was located by local forces. | As news of the ambush came out, the US military sent in rescue teams to search for Johnson, not making his status public in the hope he might have been in hiding. The Pentagon only acknowledged that he was missing after his body was located by local forces. |
| The Pentagon has declined to release details about the exact mission of the commando team. US officials have previously said the joint US-Niger patrol had been asked to assist a second US commando team hunting for a senior Islamic State member who also had former ties to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. The team had been asked to go to a location where the insurgent had last been seen, and collect intelligence. | The Pentagon has declined to release details about the exact mission of the commando team. US officials have previously said the joint US-Niger patrol had been asked to assist a second US commando team hunting for a senior Islamic State member who also had former ties to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. The team had been asked to go to a location where the insurgent had last been seen, and collect intelligence. |
| After completing that mission, the troops stopped in a village for a short time to get food and water, then left. The US military believes someone in the village may have tipped off attackers to the presence of US commandoes and Nigerien forces, setting in motion the ambush. | After completing that mission, the troops stopped in a village for a short time to get food and water, then left. The US military believes someone in the village may have tipped off attackers to the presence of US commandoes and Nigerien forces, setting in motion the ambush. |
| US special operations forces have been routinely working with Niger’s forces, helping them improve their abilities to fight extremists. That effort has increased in recent years, the Pentagon said. | US special operations forces have been routinely working with Niger’s forces, helping them improve their abilities to fight extremists. That effort has increased in recent years, the Pentagon said. |
| The three other Americans killed were Bryan Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Jeremiah Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; and Dustin Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia. | The three other Americans killed were Bryan Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Jeremiah Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; and Dustin Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia. |
| US military | |
| Niger | |
| Africa | |
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