EXCLUSIVE ON FOX: U.S. military forces stationed in Niger and other West African nations are reportedly experiencing severe operational challenges in their mission against al Qaeda and ISIS militants in the Sahel region. This predicament is allegedly the result of a policy initiative from the Biden administration, as revealed by a former high-ranking State Department official to Fox News Digital.

A Pentagon insider, speaking solely to Fox News Digital, highlighted the difficulties the U.S. military faces in responding to critical events, including the kidnapping of an American on October 21. They described the situation as akin to navigating “a black hole.”

Up until September of last year, the U.S. maintained two airbases in Niger. These bases facilitated the deployment of surveillance drones equipped with advanced cameras capable of penetrating dense forests to track terrorist factions. These operations were crucial, as demonstrated in 2020 when they aided in the rescue of an American kidnapped during the Trump administration, resulting in a successful mission by Seal Team Six.

The military insider noted that Niger was initially supportive of the U.S. retaining its bases. However, complications arose after a U.S. delegation, sent by the Biden administration in March of the previous year, was perceived by Niger as having a “condescending attitude.” This led to the expulsion of all American base personnel.

General Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of Niger’s military regime, was seen greeting thousands at Niamey’s largest stadium during celebrations marking one year since his rise to power following the coup on July 26, 2023, which ousted civilian president Mohamed Bazoum. (Image: Boureima Hama/AFP via Getty Images)

Niger’s government spokesperson, Amadou Adramane, went on national television following the meeting, on March 16, complaining that the former administration’s officials did not follow diplomatic protocol, adding “Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships.”

Adramane continued: “Also, the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people.”

Mary “Molly” Phee, then Assistant Secretary of State for the Biden administration, was tasked with leading the U.S. team in their meeting with Niger’s military leadership. Several sources reported as the delegation head she demanded that the country stop dealing with Russia and Iran, or face sanctions.

One source told Fox News Digital that she ‘flame sprayed’ Niger’s leaders in the meeting, adding the “rant led us to being kicked out.” The Washington Post also reported the Nigerien leaders took particular umbrage at her remarks.

On Saturday, Phee, now retired, told Fox News Digital, “It’s a classic case of blame the messenger if you don’t like the message.”

FILE- In this file photo taken Monday, April 16, 2018, the U.S. and Niger flags are raised side by side at the base camp for air forces and other personnel supporting the construction of Niger Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger. The US handed over its last military base in Niger to the country’s authorities, the US Department of Defense and Niger’s Ministry of Defense announced in a joint statement on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.  (AP Photo/Carley Petesch, File)

Phee said she was following Biden administration policy, saying, “I’m a professional diplomat with more than 30 years of experience, and I was leading an interagency delegation dispatched to share a proposal developed and approved by the White House. The Nigerien junta rejected our offer and employed a misogynistic trope to deflect legitimate concerns about their conduct.”

Within months of the Phee delegation’s meeting with Niger’s leaders, all U.S. personnel, and their drones, had gone from Niger, leaving Washington, the military source claimed, with “no eyes in the sky.”

This led the then Commander of the U.S. Africa Command, (AFRICOM) Marine Corps General Michael Langley, to tell military chiefs at an African Chiefs of Defense Conference in May, “since we’ve left Niger in September of last year, we’re observing a rise in attacks by violent extremist organizations, not only in Niger but across the Sahel to include Nigeria as well and emanating in – going into Burkina Faso and Mali.”

The General added that terror groups have both increased their capability and ‘proliferation of weapons’, concluding “unfortunately with our withdrawal from the region, we have lost our ability to monitor these terrorist groups closely.”

The U.S. military source told Fox News Digital that, “AFRICOM is severely resource constrained with only one base in Djibouti, and some smaller forces in Somalia and Kenya. The Biden administration kept cutting our budget … we are one of the largest land masses with all the problems — Russia, China, drugs and terrorism — but make up less than 1% of the Department of War’s budget.”

“Since the previous administration lost us access to Niger, the Americans and Western powers are completely blind and unable to quickly react to anything.”

President Joe Biden speaks during the Leaders Session – Partnering on Agenda 2063 at the U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit on Dec. 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Summit brings together heads of state, government officials, business leaders, and civil society to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Africa.  (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The source agrees that Seal Team Six could conceivably be sent in again to rescue this new American kidnap victim. But he said first, the rescue team needs to know where the victim is “If we had stayed (in Niger), right now… Niger would be much safer, and we would have eyes in the sky to help find the American missionary … now we have nothing in the way of resources.”

Rescue, the source told us, is “difficult to impossible … first we have to find the guy.”

Analysts agreed that, particularly in Sahel’s hot conditions, it’s difficult for Washington’s other ‘eyes’, satellites, to be effective in tracking the victim.

The State Department has issued its highest possible travel advisory alert, stating “Do not travel to Niger for any reason due to crime, unrest, terrorism, health, and kidnapping.”

Fox News Digital reached out to AFRICOM, the Department of War and the State Department on several occasions, but at the time of publication there had been no response.