18/06/2026
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18/06/2026
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NIAMEY, Jun 18: At least 35 people were killed after armed attackers targeted Niger’s largest airport in the capital Niamey on Thursday, marking the second attack on the facility in less than five months, officials said.
The assault took place at Diori Hamani International Airport, where residents reported hearing explosions and gunfire shortly after completing morning prayers. The airport, which also houses a military base, was quickly placed under lockdown as security forces responded to the attack.
Niger’s Defence Ministry said the death toll included 22 attackers, 11 soldiers, and two civilians. Security forces later launched a manhunt to track down remaining assailants, while reports indicated that several attackers had been detained.
Witnesses said the attackers appeared to have blended into the local population, making it difficult for authorities to identify them. Some local residents attempted to assist security forces, although officials urged civilians not to interfere with operations.
The attack comes as Niger continues to battle a decade-long Islamist insurgency involving militant groups linked to Islamic State and other extremist organizations. No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s assault, but an organization affiliated with Islamic State claimed responsibility for a similar attack on the same airport in January.
During that earlier assault, Niger’s authorities said four military personnel were injured and 20 attackers were killed.
Diori Hamani International Airport is considered one of Niger’s most sensitive security sites, serving as both a civilian airport and a military installation. It also hosts facilities linked to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc comprising Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, all of which are governed by military-led administrations.
In recent weeks, Nigerien authorities have increased security measures around the airport, including demolishing nearby neighborhoods citing terrorist threats, expanding perimeter fencing, and installing more than 350 surveillance cameras.
The latest attack highlights the continued security challenges facing Niger and the wider Sahel region, despite intensified counterterrorism measures by regional governments.
