U.S. Forces in Niger Were Denied Armed Drone
By Julian E. Barnes, Nancy A. Youssef and Ben Kesling at the Wall Street Journal
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-forces-in-niger-were-denied-armed-drone-1509146561
"SNIP........
The drone request suggests that military officials were aware of a change in the security landscape in western Niger, where more than two dozen previous patrols had been conducted without incident. Intelligence indicated a low risk of enemy contact, and there had been no enemy attacks on U.S. forces there for the past year, according to officials investigating the incident.
The initial decision against the use of an armed drone reflects an effort by the U.S. mission in Niger to maintain a light footprint in the country amid local resistance to the deployment of armed aircraft—a challenge for officials also seeking to adequately support U.S. troops there.
After the firefight broke out on Oct. 4, some military officials also wanted an armed drone, but it is unclear if one was in the area and whether any request was made, according to a military official. An unarmed drone was dispatched, and French Mirage jet fighters arrived about an hour later, followed by French helicopters.
U.S. officials have repeatedly modified the timeline as facts trickle in.
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