But on Friday, US officials said that French jets did have authority to bomb but did not because pilots could not readily identify enemy forces in this firefight and did not want to risk hitting US and Nigerien troops.
Private contractor conducted evacuations: A US private aviation contractor conducted evacuations of US and Nigerien troops after they were ambushed, according to US Africa Command spokesperson Robyn Mack. Mack said that US private contractor Berry Aviation was "on alert during the incident and conducted casualty evacuation and transport for US and partner forces."
US officials previously told CNN that French military Super Puma helicopters also evacuated the wounded Americans along with those killed in action while also providing covering fire. The wounded were first flown to the capital Niamey and later to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
A 12-man American team left the Nigerien capital of Niamey on Oct. 3 with reconnaissance mission orders and spent the night off base, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford revealed in a briefing with Pentagon reporters Monday.
Dunford revealed new details regarding an Oct. 4 Islamic State ambush of the 12-man U.S. military team. The team came under fire mid-morning of Oct. 4 by approximately 50 ISIS militants with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. U.S. and Nigerien forces took fire for approximately one hour before air support was requested.
Five Nigerien security forces were also killed during the operation. U.S., French, and Nigerien forces remained in the mission area for nearly 48 hours before Johnson’s body was found on Oct 6 by Nigerien forces.
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