One hundred troops from U.S. Africa Command have deployed to Niger, to conduct and support intelligence operations in the region. The troops – mostly Air Force intelligence specialists – are in Niger with full support of the country’s government, and will be responsible for providing their own security. The U.S. presence will bolster French military intelligence operations, largely centered on monitoring and mitigating the potential threat posed by increasing numbers of al Qaida and other extremist organizations in neighboring Mali. The U.S. personnel are operating remotely piloted, unarmed aircraft.
