The attack on the airport in Niamey claimed dozens of lives
In Niamey, the capital of Niger, militants attacked the Diori Hamani International Airport, which is also a key military facility; the attack resulted in numerous casualties and triggered a large-scale operation by security forces. According to official reports, 35 people were killed, including military personnel, civilians, and the attackers themselves.
The incident occurred on the morning of June 19, when explosions were heard near the airport, after which the area was effectively placed under a combat sweep operation. A group linked to Al-Qaeda operating in the Sahel region claimed responsibility for the attack.
Diori Hamani Airport in Niamey has long served a dual purpose—it is not only a civilian transportation hub but also one of the country’s key military logistics centers, making it a regular target for armed groups. That is why the morning attack on June 19 immediately escalated into a large-scale counterterrorism operation that encompassed the entire surrounding area.
According to the Niger Ministry of Defense, the dead include 11 military personnel, two civilians, and 22 militants who participated in the assault or were killed during the clashes. Eyewitnesses reported powerful explosions around 6 a.m., after which security forces began operating in the area, blocking access and conducting a sweep.
The ministry also stated that several attackers were wounded during the operation, and about twenty more people were detained on suspicion of involvement in the attack. The situation in the area around the airport has been stabilized, but military personnel remain on site due to the risk of further attacks.
The group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), which is considered one of al-Qaeda’s key allies in West Africa and regularly operates in the Sahel region, targeting both military and civilian facilities.
In recent years, Niger has become one of the hubs of jihadist activity in the region, where attacks on infrastructure and security forces periodically result in dozens of casualties and shift the security balance in the country. This is reported by the BBC.
