In western African country of Niger, three US military service members were killed and two others were wounded yesterday in an ambush. According to a US official the American troops came under fire when they were on a regular joint patrol along with Nigerian soldiers. <br/><br/>'The ambush took place about 200 kilometers north of Niamey, close to the border with Mali in an area where Al Qaeda in the Maghreb and other ISIS affiliated groups have been active. The official said it is unknown who attacked the joint U.S.-Nigerien patrol.<br/><br/>There are about 400 U.S. military personnel in Niger most of whom work at two drone bases in northern Niger, providing reconnaissance information to the Nigerien military to counter violent extremist groups.