Overview
- Explosions and heavy gunfire erupted overnight at Air Base 101 beside Niamey’s Diori Hamani International Airport, and calm returned by morning.
- Niger’s defense ministry reported at least 20 suspected attackers killed, four soldiers wounded, and seven suspects detained, with weapons and motorcycles recovered.
- The Al Qaeda–linked group JNIM claimed responsibility for the assault, though some government accounts and circulating videos have not been independently verified.
- Junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani publicly accused the presidents of France, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire without presenting evidence, and state TV alleged one slain attacker was French.
- ASKY Airlines and Air Côte d’Ivoire said parked aircraft were damaged with no injuries reported, flights were temporarily suspended, and authorities credited Russian troops with defending their sector.