127e programs | |
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Date | 2017–2020 |
127e programs, also known as 127 Echo programs, refers to a number of counterterrorism operations led by United States special operations forces under the legal authority of Section 127e of Title 10 of the United States Code. [1] [2] According to The Intercept, at least 23 different operations were conducted by the American military under 127e authority between 2017 and 2020, costing at least $310 million. [3]
Section 127e of Title 10 of the United States Code, titled Support of special operations to combat terrorism, allows for the United States Secretary of Defense to spend a maximum of $100 million a year to "support to foreign forces, irregular forces, groups, or individuals engaged in supporting or facilitating authorized ongoing military operations by United States special operations forces" engaged in counterterrorism activities. [4] [5]
The authority originated in American government initiatives during the first few years of the War on terror, notably the Iraq War. It was originally known as Section 1208 authority, under the National Defense Authorization Act, and received funding of $10 million a year. [6]
A number of 127e programmes have been conducted in Somalia, consisting of training regional forces for combat against Al-Shabaab. [7] Other "direct action" missions involving direct combat with American forces have been conducted in Cameroon, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Mauritania have been confirmed to have occurred by former American general Donald C. Bolduc. [8] Operations under the authority have also been carried out in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. [3]
In 2017, the team ambushed in the Tongo Tongo ambush in Niger had been pulled off its original mission to assist another team that had been conducted a 127e operation. [9] In 2019, the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) of the Cameroon Armed Forces received American funding under 127e authority, until the programme was cut off due to accusations of human rights abuses by the BIR [10]
On the 24th of October 2023, The Intercept would put out an article describing how the US military used 127e programme to conduct what it described as a "secret war" in Lebanon, and warned of how it could inflame the ongoing 2023 Israel-Hamas war [11]
In 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven called the programme "probably the single most important authority we have in our fight against terrorism." [9] In 2018, General Raymond A. Thomas stated that the programme's "unique access and capabilities achieve results." [9] According to General Richard D. Clarke, "use of 127e authority has directly resulted in the capture or killing of thousands of terrorists." [12]
Elias Yousif of the Center for International Policy and Daniel R. Mahanty of the Center for Civilians in Conflict have concerns about a lack of formal oversight mechanisms for the programme, saying that "the DOD has exempted 127e programs from basic human rights due diligence and vetting it applies to almost all other programs" and has allowed the Pentagon to avoid "critical questions about U.S. military involvement in foreign conflicts." [13] Katherine Ebright of the Brennan Center for Justice has said that the Pentagon has used the programmes "to engage in combat beyond the scope of any authorization for use of military force or permissible self-defense," which "would contravene constitutional principles." [3]
The Niger Armed Forces includes military armed force service branches, paramilitary services branches and the National Police of Niger. The Army, Air Force and the National Gendarmerie are under the Ministry of Defense whereas the National Guard and the National Police fall under the command of the Ministry of Interior. With the exception of the National Police, all military and paramilitary forces are trained in military fashion. The President of Niger is the supreme commander of the entire armed forces. The National Assembly of Niger passed a statute for the Army of Niger in November 2020, planning for the army's size to increase from 25,000 personnel in 2020, to 50,000 in 2025 and finally 100,000 in 2030.
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush announced that airstrikes against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban had begun in Afghanistan. Beyond the military actions in Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom was also affiliated with counterterrorism operations in other countries, such as OEF-Philippines and OEF-Trans Sahara.
Counterterrorism, also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and intelligence agencies use to combat or eliminate terrorism.
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an intelligence agency and combat support agency of the United States Department of Defense, specializing in defense and military intelligence.
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The Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is a joint component command of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and is charged with studying special operations requirements and techniques to ensure interoperability and equipment standardization, to plan and conduct special operations exercises and training, to develop joint special operations tactics, and to execute special operations missions worldwide. It was established in 1980 on recommendation of Colonel Charlie Beckwith, in the aftermath of the failure of Operation Eagle Claw. It is headquartered at Pope Field.
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Niger–United States relations are bilateral relations between Niger and the United States. The two countries cooperate on a range of issues, including counter-terrorism, trade and investment, and health and education. On August 4, 2023, Abdourahamane Tchiani's military junta severed diplomatic ties with the US after a successful coup d'état deposing Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum. In 2024, the Niger ended its security cooperation with the United States, stating that the security pact violated the Niger's constitution.
The Vietnam War Crimes Working Group (VWCWG) was a Pentagon task force set up in the wake of the My Lai massacre and its media disclosure. The goal of the VWCWG was to attempt to ascertain the veracity of emerging claims of war crimes and atrocities by U.S. armed forces in Vietnam allegedly committed during the Vietnam War period.
American military operations other than war (MOOTW) focus on deterring war, resolving conflict, promoting peace, and supporting civil authorities in response to domestic crises.
Nick Turse is an American investigative journalist, historian, and author. He is the associate editor and research director of the blog TomDispatch and a fellow at The Nation Institute.
The United States Special Operations Command is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special operations component commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense and is the only unified combatant command created by an Act of Congress. USSOCOM is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
Tongo Tongo is a village in the rural commune (municipality) of Tondikiwindi, Ouallam Department, Tillabéri Region in southwestern Niger, 174 km north of the nation's capital Niamey and 28 km south of the border with Mali. The village has about 160-170 huts/dwellings, irregularly clustered. There are no roads, only trails that connect to nearby villages such as Siwili, Firo, Sabara Bangou, Sinka Koira, Gollo, Gouré Tonndi, Kokorobé Koukou, and Zerma Daré.
The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) attacked Nigerien and US soldiers outside the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, while they were returning to base after a stop in the village. During the ambush, four Nigeriens, four US soldiers, and at least 21 ISGS militants were killed, and eight Nigeriens and two US soldiers including the team commander were wounded. In the day preceding the ambush, the Nigerien and US soldiers conducted a mission attempting to locate and capture or kill Doundou Chefou, a commander in the ISGS.
The Rapid Intervention Battalion is an elite military force and an army combat unit of the Cameroonian Armed Forces.
Niger Air Base 201 is a Nigerien airbase near Agadez, Niger.
The US military intervention in Niger was the deployment of special operations forces and unmanned aerial vehicles by the United States in support of the Nigerien government and French military in counter-terrorism operations against militant groups in Niger as part of Operation Juniper Shield. The deployment of U.S. forces in Niger and in the greater West Africa region involved the training of host nation partner forces, enhancement of host nation security assistance efforts, and facilitated counter-terrorism and surveillance and reconnaissance missions in support of host nation partner forces. The U.S. deployed drones from the Air Force and CIA in order to assist American and Nigerien forces in counter-terrorism operations, monitor routes used by militants in Niger into neighboring nations, and to assist operations in Libya.
Moussa Salaou Barmou is a Nigerien military officer and one of the leaders of the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état. On 26 July 2023, he helped oust President Mohamed Bazoum.