35 killed in gun attack on Niger`s main airport

At least 35 people, including 11 soldiers and two civilians, were killed after heavily gunmen attacked Niger's Diori Hamani International Airport on Thursday, with an al-Qaeda-linked militant group later claiming responsibility for the assault.

According to Niger's Defence Ministry, security forces repelled the attack, killing 22 of the assailants, while four others were wounded and 20 were arrested. Authorities said they recovered RPG-7 launchers, AK-47 rifles, grenades, explosives, communication equipment, and thousands of rounds of ammunition during the operation.

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The militant group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which is affiliated with al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility later on Thursday. The airport, located in the capital Niamey, also houses a military base and facilities used by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), making it one of Niger's most heavily guarded strategic sites. Witnesses reported hearing explosions and gunfire shortly after dawn prayers. According to the BBC, Niger has been battling Islamist insurgent groups across the Sahel region for more than a decade.