U.S. deaths in Niger highlight Africa military mission creepNAIROBI/ABIDJAN (Reuters) - U.S. special forces soldiers were with their counterparts from Niger on Wednesday in the West African nation s volatile southwest, a growing hot-bed of jihadist violence, when the report came in of a raid nearby. The assailants were believed to be led by Dondou Chefou, a lieutenant in a new group operating along the Mali-Niger border and called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. A decision was soon taken to pursue them. The mixed force was ambushed by fighters on dozens of vehicles and motorcycles. Under heavy fire, U.S. troops called in French fighter jets for air support, but the firefight was at such close quarters that the planes could not engage and were instead left circling overhead as a deterrant.  The version of events, as told by two Nigerien and two Western sources briefed on the incident, shines a light on Washington s increasingly aggressive Special Forces-led counter-terrorism strategy in Africa and its risk of casualties.  Four U.S. soldiers died in the firefight, killed in a country where most Americans were unaware that their army is deployed but where Washington has steadily grown its presence. One soldier s body was only recovered two days later. At least four Nigeriens were also killed and, according to one Niger security source, militants seized four vehicles in the ambush. French helicopters, scrambled after the U.S. call for help, evacuated several soldiers wounded in the clash. A diplomat with knowledge of the incident said French officials were frustrated by the U.S. troops  actions, saying they had acted on only limited intelligence and without contingency plans in place.  After initially offering only scant details of what happened in the Nigerien desert on Wednesday, the U.S. military s Africa Command said on Friday the soldiers were in the area to establish relations with local leaders.   It was not meant to be an engagement with the enemy,  Africom spokesman Colonel Mark Cheadle told reporters.  The threats at the time were deemed to be unlikely, so there was no overhead armed air cover during the engagement.   U.S. forces do not have a direct combat mission in Niger, but their assistance to its army does include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in their efforts to target violent extremist organizations. U.S. military deployments are on the rise in Africa.  In May, a U.S. Navy Seal killed in a raid on an al Shabaab militant compound in Somalia became the first U.S. combat death in Africa since the 1993  Black Hawk Down  disaster in Mogadishu. In Niger, Washington has deployed around 800 soldiers, runs a drone base in the capital Niamey, and is building a second in Agadez at a cost of around $100 million. U.S. Special Forces help local troops develop counter-terrorism skills to tackle threats from al Qaeda-linked groups, Nigeria s Boko Haram and Islamists who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State.   It s a pretty broad mission with the government of Niger in order to increase their capability to stand alone and to prosecute violent extremists,  the U.S. military s Joint Staff Director, Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, said on Thursday. Washington has long seen the Sahel as a security threat but involvement increased in the wake of a 2012 occupation of northern Mali by Islamist militants.  France led an offensive against the Islamists a year later, and the U.S. government now provides logistical and intelligence support to a 4,000-troop French counter-terrorism operation in the region.  The U.S. military organizes an annual, high-profile U.S. drill as well as longer-term, more discreet training of regional forces. But experts say U.S. involvement in the fight does not stop there.   It is likely that there are other operations going on aside from just the training operations,  said Andrew Lebovich, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. In missions run out of a base in the northern Niger town of Arlit and others like the one that led to the ambush of U.S. troops, sources say they have helped local troops and intelligence agents make several arrests.   It is discreet but they are there,  a Nigerien security source told Reuters. Analysts are awaiting the political fallout of Wednesday s ambush with some speculating it may spark a reversal of the U.S. stance on a new regional force - known as the G5 Sahel - which France is pushing but which Washington is cool on. Others however like Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, a former top United Nations official in West Africa and Somalia, recall with concern the American pullout following the  Black Hawk Down  incident. Eighteen U.S. soldiers were killed when Somali militia shot down two helicopters in Mogadishu.  In Somalia, they over-reacted and withdrew their troops ... My worry is that after this attack they will also over-react. Trump might just say  Why should we die for this?  I hope they don t.  worldnews
deaths niger highlight africa military mission reuters special forces soldiers counterparts niger wednesday west african nation volatile southwest growing jihadist violence report came raid nearby the assailants believed led london chef lieutenant new group operating along border called islamic state greater share a decision soon taken pursue the mixed force ambushed fighters dozens vehicles motorcycles under heavy fire troops called french fighter jets air support firefight close quarters planes could engage instead left circling overhead deterrent the version events told two nigerian two western sources briefed incident shines light washington increasingly aggressive special strategy africa risk casualties four soldiers died firefight killed country americans unaware army deployed washington steadily grown presence one soldier body recovered two days later at least four nigerian also killed according one niger security source militants seized four vehicles ambush french helicopters scrambled call help evacuated several soldiers wounded clash a diplomat knowledge incident said french officials frustrated troops actions saying acted limited intelligence without contingency plans place after initially offering scant details happened nigerian desert wednesday military africa command said friday soldiers area establish relations local leaders it meant engagement enemy africa spokesman colonel mark cradle told reporters the threats time deemed unlikely overhead armed air cover engagement forces direct combat mission niger assistance army include intelligence surveillance reconnaissance efforts target violent extremist organizations military deployments rise africa in may navy seal killed raid al shabaab militant compound somalia became first combat death africa since black hawk down disaster mogadishu in niger washington deployed around soldiers runs drone base capital name building second agadez cost around million special forces help local troops develop skills tackle threats al groups nigeria book haram islamists pledged allegiance islamic state it pretty broad mission government niger order increase capability stand alone prosecute violent extremists military joint staff director lieutenant general kenneth mckenzie said thursday washington long seen she security threat involvement increased wake occupation northern mali islamic militants france led offensive islamists year later government provides logistical intelligence support french operation region the military organizes annual drill well discreet training regional forces but experts say involvement fight stop it likely operations going aside training operations said andrew lebovich visiting fellow european council foreign relations in missions run base northern niger town artist others like one led ambush troops sources say helped local troops intelligence agents make several arrests it discreet nigerian security source told reuters analysts awaiting political fallout wednesday ambush speculating may spark reversal stance new regional force known she france pushing washington cool others however like ahmed would abdullah former top united nations official west africa somalia recall concern american fallout following black hawk down incident eighteen soldiers killed somali militia shot two helicopters mogadishu in somalia withdrew troops my worry attack also trump might say why die i hope worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: U.S. deaths in Niger highlight Africa military mission creepNAIROBI/ABIDJAN (Reuters) - U.S. special forces soldiers were with their counterparts from Niger on Wednesday in the West African nation s volatile southwest, a growing hot-bed of jihadist violence, when the report came in of a raid nearby. The assailants were believed to be led by Dondou Chefou, a lieutenant in a new group operating along the Mali-Niger border and called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. A decision was soon taken to pursue them. The mixed force was ambushed by fighters on dozens of vehicles and motorcycles. Under heavy fire, U.S. troops called in French fighter jets for air support, but the firefight was at such close quarters that the planes could not engage and were instead left circling overhead as a deterrant.  The version of events, as told by two Nigerien and two Western sources briefed on the incident, shines a light on Washington s increasingly aggressive Special Forces-led counter-terrorism strategy in Africa and its risk of casualties.  Four U.S. soldiers died in the firefight, killed in a country where most Americans were unaware that their army is deployed but where Washington has steadily grown its presence. One soldier s body was only recovered two days later. At least four Nigeriens were also killed and, according to one Niger security source, militants seized four vehicles in the ambush. French helicopters, scrambled after the U.S. call for help, evacuated several soldiers wounded in the clash. A diplomat with knowledge of the incident said French officials were frustrated by the U.S. troops  actions, saying they had acted on only limited intelligence and without contingency plans in place.  After initially offering only scant details of what happened in the Nigerien desert on Wednesday, the U.S. military s Africa Command said on Friday the soldiers were in the area to establish relations with local leaders.   It was not meant to be an engagement with the enemy,  Africom spokesman Colonel Mark Cheadle told reporters.  The threats at the time were deemed to be unlikely, so there was no overhead armed air cover during the engagement.   U.S. forces do not have a direct combat mission in Niger, but their assistance to its army does include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in their efforts to target violent extremist organizations. U.S. military deployments are on the rise in Africa.  In May, a U.S. Navy Seal killed in a raid on an al Shabaab militant compound in Somalia became the first U.S. combat death in Africa since the 1993  Black Hawk Down  disaster in Mogadishu. In Niger, Washington has deployed around 800 soldiers, runs a drone base in the capital Niamey, and is building a second in Agadez at a cost of around $100 million. U.S. Special Forces help local troops develop counter-terrorism skills to tackle threats from al Qaeda-linked groups, Nigeria s Boko Haram and Islamists who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State.   It s a pretty broad mission with the government of Niger in order to increase their capability to stand alone and to prosecute violent extremists,  the U.S. military s Joint Staff Director, Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, said on Thursday. Washington has long seen the Sahel as a security threat but involvement increased in the wake of a 2012 occupation of northern Mali by Islamist militants.  France led an offensive against the Islamists a year later, and the U.S. government now provides logistical and intelligence support to a 4,000-troop French counter-terrorism operation in the region.  The U.S. military organizes an annual, high-profile U.S. drill as well as longer-term, more discreet training of regional forces. But experts say U.S. involvement in the fight does not stop there.   It is likely that there are other operations going on aside from just the training operations,  said Andrew Lebovich, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. In missions run out of a base in the northern Niger town of Arlit and others like the one that led to the ambush of U.S. troops, sources say they have helped local troops and intelligence agents make several arrests.   It is discreet but they are there,  a Nigerien security source told Reuters. Analysts are awaiting the political fallout of Wednesday s ambush with some speculating it may spark a reversal of the U.S. stance on a new regional force - known as the G5 Sahel - which France is pushing but which Washington is cool on. Others however like Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, a former top United Nations official in West Africa and Somalia, recall with concern the American pullout following the  Black Hawk Down  incident. Eighteen U.S. soldiers were killed when Somali militia shot down two helicopters in Mogadishu.  In Somalia, they over-reacted and withdrew their troops ... My worry is that after this attack they will also over-react. Trump might just say  Why should we die for this?  I hope they don t.  worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: deaths niger highlight africa military mission reuters special forces soldiers counterparts niger wednesday west african nation volatile southwest growing jihadist violence report came raid nearby the assailants believed led london chef lieutenant new group operating along border called islamic state greater share a decision soon taken pursue the mixed force ambushed fighters dozens vehicles motorcycles under heavy fire troops called french fighter jets air support firefight close quarters planes could engage instead left circling overhead deterrent the version events told two nigerian two western sources briefed incident shines light washington increasingly aggressive special strategy africa risk casualties four soldiers died firefight killed country americans unaware army deployed washington steadily grown presence one soldier body recovered two days later at least four nigerian also killed according one niger security source militants seized four vehicles ambush french helicopters scrambled call help evacuated several soldiers wounded clash a diplomat knowledge incident said french officials frustrated troops actions saying acted limited intelligence without contingency plans place after initially offering scant details happened nigerian desert wednesday military africa command said friday soldiers area establish relations local leaders it meant engagement enemy africa spokesman colonel mark cradle told reporters the threats time deemed unlikely overhead armed air cover engagement forces direct combat mission niger assistance army include intelligence surveillance reconnaissance efforts target violent extremist organizations military deployments rise africa in may navy seal killed raid al shabaab militant compound somalia became first combat death africa since black hawk down disaster mogadishu in niger washington deployed around soldiers runs drone base capital name building second agadez cost around million special forces help local troops develop skills tackle threats al groups nigeria book haram islamists pledged allegiance islamic state it pretty broad mission government niger order increase capability stand alone prosecute violent extremists military joint staff director lieutenant general kenneth mckenzie said thursday washington long seen she security threat involvement increased wake occupation northern mali islamic militants france led offensive islamists year later government provides logistical intelligence support french operation region the military organizes annual drill well discreet training regional forces but experts say involvement fight stop it likely operations going aside training operations said andrew lebovich visiting fellow european council foreign relations in missions run base northern niger town artist others like one led ambush troops sources say helped local troops intelligence agents make several arrests it discreet nigerian security source told reuters analysts awaiting political fallout wednesday ambush speculating may spark reversal stance new regional force known she france pushing washington cool others however like ahmed would abdullah former top united nations official west africa somalia recall concern american fallout following black hawk down incident eighteen soldiers killed somali militia shot two helicopters mogadishu in somalia withdrew troops my worry attack also trump might say why die i hope worldnews