Four surviving Nigerian soldiers and four killed during an ambush near the village of Tongo Tongo have been recognized by the U.S. Special Operations Command as six medals were awarded. The honors include two Bronze Star Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, and one Army Commendation Medal. Four U.S. soldiers were killed along side the fallen Nigerian fighters. The absence of airborne support for over half an hour and lack of information contributed to the tragedy. The soldiers were ambuscaded by IS forces three times their size, and it wasn’t until two French Mirage fighter jets arrived that the enemy forces were driven away.

Source: Army Times (State Department/Twitter)