On the night of January 28–29, 2026, suspected jihadists launched a large-scale assault on Diori Hamani International Airport and the adjacent Air Base 101 near Niamey, Niger’s capital.
Niger’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that 20 attackers were killed during the 30-minute firefight. State television reported a French national was among the deceased.
Four military personnel were wounded in the engagement.Authorities arrested 11 individuals related to the attack, most of whom were reported to be seriously wounded.The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the assault via their Amaq news agency.
The attackers targeted aircraft with gunfire and explosives, damaging three civilian planes, including two from Asky Airlines and one from Air Côte d’Ivoire. A military ammunition stockpile also caught fire.
Flights were briefly diverted or delayed, but services at the airport returned to normal later that day. Niger’s junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, accused the presidents of France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of sponsoring the “mercenaries,” though he provided no evidence. Benin’s government dismissed the claims as “nonsense”.
Tiani publicly thanked Russian partners stationed at the base for their “professionalism” in help repelling the assault.
By Anthony Solly
