3 US Army special operations commandos killed in Niger
The officials said the commandos, who were Green Berets, were likely attacked by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb militants.
In a statement, US Africa Command said the forces were with a joint US and Nigerien patrol north of Niamey, near the Mali border, when they came under hostile fire.
Africa Command said the US forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces in their efforts against violent extremists.