Recently, four US soldiers lost their lives in Niger, but several questions remain unanswered about a mysterious US Drone strike. The United States Armed Forces are spread around the world protecting America's interests, however, not only do they protect the American people, they also support several nations by providing military training, and assist in humanitarian efforts. So, when a US soldier loses his/her life on the battlefield, It is only natural that everyone takes time out of their busy schedule to pay respect to the fallen hero that gave the ultimate sacrifice; his/her life.

Reportedly, ambushed soldiers did not call for help

Apparently, the US Special Forces ambushed in Niger by Islamic militants did not call for assistance. After reviewing the period before the deadly attack, US Marine General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shared information about their investigation.

According to a CNN report, General Dunford stated that the American people and the family members of the deceased soldiers deserve to know the details of the attack. However, the military did not reveal much information regarding the death of the servicemen due to the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, they asked everyone to be patient while the military pieced together the mystery surrounding the deadly accident.

Does mystery surround the drone strike?

The General, in his brief, confirmed that after the mid-morning incident, it took several hours to remove the bodies of the servicemen as well as the wounded soldiers. However, he mentioned that “within minutes” of the unit asking for help, a drone was deployed to survey the scene. While the general did not say whether the drone was armed or not, he confirmed it had opened fire.

He also stated that the US Military received assistance from a French fighter jet that arrived on the scene an hour later.

Is poor planning to blame?

Dunford stated that the investigation is ongoing; however, it will take some time to get all the details. He also suggested that soldiers are trained to assess situations to see if they need further support on the battlefield.

The U.S. General also said soldiers usually use available resources to fight the enemy.

He further conveyed that under military rules US forces are advised to only accompany the Niger troops on missions where there is no contact with the enemy, but he did concede that the region was inherently dangerous. Additionally, he said US forces provide training and advice to the Niger troops, who are fighting various Al-Qaeda troops and ISIS.

General Dunford conceded that three weeks after the deadly attack, which claimed the lives of four American heroes, unanswered questions remain.
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