Home
+
Published : 19 Jun 2026, 11:21 AM
At least 35 people have been killed after armed attackers launched an assault on Niger’s largest international airport in the capital Niamey, reports BBC.
The attack took place early Thursday at Diori Hamani International Airport, which also hosts military facilities.
According to Niger’s defence ministry, those killed included 22 attackers, 11 soldiers and two civilians.
Residents said explosions and gunfire were heard shortly after morning prayers.
Security forces later repelled the attack and launched operations to track down any remaining assailants, the British broadcaster said.
The Al-Qaeda-linked group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the assault later in the day.
Security personnel recovered a large cache of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers, assault rifles, explosives, grenades, communication devices and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Witnesses said some local residents joined efforts to search for suspects, although security forces attempted to restrict civilian involvement.
The area around the airport remained under tight security, with vehicles being searched throughout the day.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, condemned the attack and praised Nigerien forces for securing the airport.
Diori Hamani International Airport is regarded as one of Niger’s most strategic facilities, serving both civilian and military operations.
It also hosts installations linked to the Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
The latest attack comes less than five months after another assault on the same airport.
Niger has faced a prolonged Islamist insurgency for more than a decade, with armed groups linked to both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State active across the region, said the BBC.
