Niger Airport Attacked by ISIL Terrorists

Niger Air Force Base Attacked by ISIL-Linked Group

An air force base at Niger’s main airport has been targeted by an ISIL (ISIS) armed group, according to a statement released by the Amaq News Agency on Friday. The attack, which occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday, resulted in significant damage and the deaths of 20 attackers, with four army soldiers also wounded.

The military government, which took power in a 2023 coup, confirmed that security forces had responded to the attack. General Abdourahamane Tiani, the military ruler, thanked Russian troops stationed at the base for their role in defending the sector.

Tiani also made accusations against France, Benin, and Ivory Coast, stating that they were involved in sponsoring the attack. However, these claims have been denied by representatives from Benin’s government.

The ISIL affiliate has been linked to several high-profile attacks in Niger in recent months, including a September incident that killed over 120 people in the Tillaberi region. The group has also abducted a US pilot in October.

The air force base at Niamey airport is home to military bases and the headquarters of the Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali Joint Force. The three countries have joined forces in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which aims to tackle armed groups in the region.

A uranium stockpile located at the airport is also at the center of a nationalization dispute with French state-affiliated nuclear company Orano.

Source: Al Jazeera