Militants kill 13 in attack on Niger's main international airport

Militants attacked Niger's main international airport in the capital, Niamey, killing 13 people in an assault that underscored the deepening security crisis across the Sahel.

The attack on Diori Hamani International Airport on June 18 killed 11 soldiers and two civilians, according to authorities, who said 22 of the attackers were also killed and 20 suspects arrested. The al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, known as JNIM, claimed responsibility later the same day.

The airport serves as a key military hub for the region, and the assault marked the second time it had been targeted in 2026. An earlier attack in January left around 20 people dead, highlighting the persistence of the threat to strategic sites.

JNIM has been behind a surge in jihadist violence across West Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, where military governments have struggled to contain expanding insurgencies. The group has increasingly targeted military and government installations.

The attack adds to pressure on Niger's authorities, who seized power in a 2023 coup and have shifted security partnerships away from Western allies. Analysts say the repeated strikes on a high-profile facility point to the militants' growing reach and operational confidence in the region.