Tactic/Method – Page 14

ISIS ambush and kill US Special Forces in Niger – video from US perspective

Link to version with extra 40 seconds of footage showing deceased US soldier. WARNING – extremely graphic.

The Tongo Tongo Ambush

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 ambush sparked political debate over the presence of US forces in Africa and brought attention to previously under-reported US military activities in the region. The ambush also prompted congressional inquiries, and an investigation by the US Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD inquiry, completed in 2018, found that the 11-member US special forces team was not prepared for the mission, and identified other flaws in planning.

The ambush remains the largest loss of American lives in combat in Africa since the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

Tactical Breakdown of the incident by the US Department of Defense

Complete DoD video:

Shorter Youtube version which does not cover extraction:

Mugger counter-ambushed

Victim perfectly distracts mugger by dropping wallet, hiding his draw by stepping around another person and drawing from the hidden side without making any sudden or aggressive movements to indicate that he may put up a fight.

Sucker punch thrown while literally head-to-head

Another example of two males posturing in an effort to make the other submit. When neither backs down, a sucker punch is thrown from the hip with no warning.

Cop takes knee to groin, knocks out drunk

This knee strike was powerful enough to visibly knock back the cop’s hips. He was still able to retaliate and knock out the drunk. Once again, a groin strike not playing out how most people expect.

Sucker punch fails, aggressor kicked in groin

Man on phone fails to read a high risk of sucker punch or simply is unsure about how to respond to the risk.

The aggressor finally attempts a very poor sucker punch and the other man responds with a kick to the groin followed by punches which knock out the aggressor.

Something to note here is that unlike in the movies, the aggressor did not crumple to the ground once kicked in the groin, in fact he barely flinched at this. Closed fist punches to the head finished the fight which were set up by the groin kick.

Ideal Taser deployment

Taser is fired into back of suspect. Police move in quickly to gain control.

MMA sucker punch – before fight has started

This video demonstrates one of the core differences between combat sports and street violence – in a street fight, there is usually no agreement between parties as to when the fight will start. Attacking first and catching the other party by surprise conveys a massive advantage. This MMA fight might have lasted multiple rounds, but a sucker punch ended it before the other fighter knew what was happening.

Hostage saved with jumping kick

Police officer uses kick to knock over man who is holding woman a woman hostage with a knife to her throat. Others then move in to secure the man.

Blind sided in street fight

Quite typical in street confrontations – while focused on fighting a single person, we are extremely vulnerable to attack from others.

Two knocked out as they approach man

Man punches two other males as they enter within striking distance. An example of how at this close range there is not enough time to react to a sucker punch. Most people are generally not able to predict the exact moment a strike will be delivered from the hands at waist position.

Category: Tactic/Method