Deadly Assault on Niamey Airport Claims 11 Soldiers and Two Civilians

Ministry of Defence reports that 11 soldiers, two civilians and 22 attackers were killed in the assault on Diori Hamani International Airport.

Published on 18 June 2026

An armed assault on Niamey’s international airport resulted in the deaths of 11 military personnel and two civilians, the Defence Ministry announced.

The statement also reported that 22 attackers were killed and approximately 20 suspects were taken into custody.

Earlier on Thursday, security forces engaged suspected rebels near the Diori Hamani International Airport and the adjacent military airbase.

According to a source, the attackers launched the operation at around 6:00 am local time (05:00 GMT).

An airport employee, residing nearby, described hearing intense gunfire and observing a significant military presence as he approached the facility, prompting him to turn back for safety. Another local resident reported hearing sustained artillery fire.

An AFP source indicated that the assailants reached a checkpoint near the airport by taxi and were met with strong resistance from security troops, leading to prolonged gunfire.

The defence ministry stated that a large‑scale operation is currently underway, that the international airport is fully secured, and that it remains operational for air traffic.

By noon GMT, the situation had largely stabilized, although sporadic fires — possibly set during the military’s sweeping operations — were reported by a Reuters witness and two local residents.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which the ministry says left four individuals wounded, according to an initial report.

The airport and the adjacent military airbase share a complex, with the base positioned directly opposite the civilian terminal.

An ISIL‑linked affiliate had previously claimed responsibility for an attack on the same complex in January, during which security forces killed 20 fighters and wounded four soldiers.

In recent weeks, authorities have begun demolishing thousands of structures built illegally near the airport as part of a strategy to mitigate perceived terrorist threats.

Officials alleged that the informal settlements had been infiltrated by armed rebels. The airport’s perimeter fence has been reinforced, and more than 350 security cameras have been installed both inside and outside the perimeter.

Niamey’s airport is one of the nation’s most strategically important military sites, hosting the G5 Sahel counter‑terrorism force, Russian troops, and a drone unit that conducts strikes against rebel groups.

Significant uranium reserves earmarked for export are also stored at the airport, and any attack on these facilities could pose serious environmental hazards.

Similar to its Sahel neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger continues to grapple with attacks by armed groups linked to al‑Qaeda and ISIL, which have killed thousands and displaced millions across the region.

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