Pentagon to unveil Niger attack investigation

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon on Thursday is releasing the final report on the Niger attack that killed four Americans last October.

Officials say it concludes that the Army Special Forces team didn't get required command approval for the initial risky mission to go after a high-level Islamic State group insurgent. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation ahead of its release.

Defense officials say they'll describe how the mission unfolded, leading to the gruesome ambush, and then explain what is being done to correct the problems brought to light by the incident.

Families of the fallen troops have been briefed on the investigation. Arnold Wright, father of Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright of Lyons, Georgia, who was killed in the attack, says the whole thing was "a screwed up mess."