In Tongo Tongo, a village in Niger, a joint patrol consisting of Nigerien and American special forces was conducting a mission focused on intelligence gathering related to the Islamic State (ISIS) activities in the region. The operation was part of a bigger strategy to counter the rising influence of ISIS affiliates in West Africa, where the group had gained significant traction. On this day, the patrol encountered a substantial group of armed militants, resulting in a fierce firefight. The operation turned deadly as the militants launched a well-coordinated ambush that caught the soldiers off guard. The skirmish lasted for several hours, and the joint forces were outnumbered, leading to unfortunate casualties. A total of four American soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group were killed along with five Nigerien troops. The soldiers fought valiantly but were ultimately overwhelmed by the attackers. This incident underscored the dangers faced by foreign troops in the Sahel region, where extremist groups exploit local instability. It also sparked an outcry over the presence of US forces in the region and raised questions regarding the effectiveness of US counterterrorism strategies in Africa.