Terrorist group claims responsibility for daring attack on international airport and military airbase in Niger capital, unleashing chaos and destruction.
Niger's capital city Niamey was thrown into chaos early yesterday morning as the Islamic State in the Sahel region launched a surprise and coordinated assault on the city's international airport and adjacent military air force base. The attack, which began shortly after midnight, involved motorcycle-riding militants who employed heavy weaponry and drones to carry out their assault.
According to the Amaq news agency, the regional affiliate of the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted at least three planes belonging to Ivorian carrier Air Côte d'Ivoire and Togolese airline Asky. The gunfire and explosions at the airport reportedly hit multiple aircraft, with staff from one of the airlines remaining in their hotel away from the scene.
Niger's military authorities have confirmed that security forces quickly repelled the attack, killing 20 of the attackers and arresting 11 others. A significant stash of ammunition also caught fire during the assault, which was carried out using motorcycles. The government has attributed the attack to external factors, but the specifics remain unclear.
In a statement aimed at its regional neighbors and former colonial power France, Niger's junta leader Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani vowed that his government would not be intimidated by threats from external actors. However, the lack of concrete evidence supporting the junta's claims has raised questions about the true extent of their involvement in the attack.
This incident marks a significant escalation in violence in Niger, with the country having experienced several high-profile attacks in recent months, including an assault on the Tillabéri region and the abduction of a US pilot. The attack also highlights the growing threat posed by terrorist groups in the Sahel region, which has led to a significant increase in military presence in the area.
The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Niger's neighbors, including Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, who have long accused France of scheming against development in the Sahel region. The Association of Sahel States (AES), a military alliance formed by several junta-run states, has issued its own passports and set up a regional development institution to address the region's development challenges.
In neighboring Nigeria, an attack using drones carried out by Islamic State West Africa Province left at least nine soldiers dead and several others wounded. The coordinated attacks across the region highlight the growing threat posed by terrorist groups in West Africa and underscore the need for increased cooperation and support from regional leaders and international partners to address this challenge.
Niger's capital city Niamey was thrown into chaos early yesterday morning as the Islamic State in the Sahel region launched a surprise and coordinated assault on the city's international airport and adjacent military air force base. The attack, which began shortly after midnight, involved motorcycle-riding militants who employed heavy weaponry and drones to carry out their assault.
According to the Amaq news agency, the regional affiliate of the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted at least three planes belonging to Ivorian carrier Air Côte d'Ivoire and Togolese airline Asky. The gunfire and explosions at the airport reportedly hit multiple aircraft, with staff from one of the airlines remaining in their hotel away from the scene.
Niger's military authorities have confirmed that security forces quickly repelled the attack, killing 20 of the attackers and arresting 11 others. A significant stash of ammunition also caught fire during the assault, which was carried out using motorcycles. The government has attributed the attack to external factors, but the specifics remain unclear.
In a statement aimed at its regional neighbors and former colonial power France, Niger's junta leader Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani vowed that his government would not be intimidated by threats from external actors. However, the lack of concrete evidence supporting the junta's claims has raised questions about the true extent of their involvement in the attack.
This incident marks a significant escalation in violence in Niger, with the country having experienced several high-profile attacks in recent months, including an assault on the Tillabéri region and the abduction of a US pilot. The attack also highlights the growing threat posed by terrorist groups in the Sahel region, which has led to a significant increase in military presence in the area.
The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Niger's neighbors, including Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, who have long accused France of scheming against development in the Sahel region. The Association of Sahel States (AES), a military alliance formed by several junta-run states, has issued its own passports and set up a regional development institution to address the region's development challenges.
In neighboring Nigeria, an attack using drones carried out by Islamic State West Africa Province left at least nine soldiers dead and several others wounded. The coordinated attacks across the region highlight the growing threat posed by terrorist groups in West Africa and underscore the need for increased cooperation and support from regional leaders and international partners to address this challenge.
these terrorist groups seem to be getting bolder by the day. I remember back in '05 when we had that one incident at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, it was a major deal then and now it seems like every other country is getting hit. the sahel region is like a powder keg just waiting to go off 
and its not just niger or nigeria that's getting affected, the whole west africa thing is getting more intense by the minute...
. I mean, an attack on a military airbase in Niger? That's just not right. And now there's another one in Nigeria using drones? We need to step up our game here and support these countries in any way we can 
.
. I'm not saying that Niger or France are innocent, but come on, let's get to the bottom of this already! 
. We need to start taking action, not just making speeches or issuing statements.
Niger's security situation is getting out of control 
can't believe Niger just got hit with another terrorist attack... like, what's going on here? first it's Ivorian airline planes getting blasted at Niamey airport, then a drone attack in Nigeria kills 9 soldiers... is it just me or does this seem super coordinated? 
Amaq news agency claiming responsibility for both attacks, but who knows if that's even true... 
, meanwhile we gotta deal with the aftermath and try to figure out how to stop these attacks from happening in the first place... i mean can't our governments just get along for once and work together to solve this problem? it's all about cooperation and support... 
the fact that these militants used drones and heavy weaponry to carry out their assault is just insane 
the thought of those 20 attackers being killed and 11 more arrested is a glimmer of hope, but we also know there are many more still out there 
let's talk about something that's gonna make our lives easier - those new smart glasses that just dropped! 
they're like something straight outta sci-fi, with augmented reality capabilities and facial recognition tech... it's the future, folks! 
can't wait to get my hands on a pair 
just heard about the crazy attack on Niamey airport and military base in Niger - so glad that security forces were able to repel it quickly 
, but 20 lives lost is still way too much 
, so let's all take a deep breath and focus on our own self-care 
- meditation, yoga, whatever works for you!
lets hope regional leaders can come together & support each other more 
The fact that they've had several high-profile attacks in recent months already raises some serious red flags 
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. I'm not saying it's definitely an ISIS operation, but at least we should be keeping an open mind and looking into all possible angles 
.
️. That's gotta be a major concern for anyone who relies on these infrastructure systems 
. We need more than just empty statements from officials if we're gonna make a real difference 
.
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. How many people were killed or injured exactly? 
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. but seriously tho, its crazy how these groups can coordinate attacks across borders like this. and nigeria got hit too 
