Attack on Niger's airport kills 13, 22 jihadists dead as flights disrupted

Channel Television reports an attack on Niger's Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey killed at least 11 soldiers and two civilians Thursday, June 17, 2026. Security forces killed 22 attackers, wounded four personnel, and arrested about 20 suspects after gunfire erupted around 6am local time near the airport checkpoint.

This marks the second major assault on the airport in six months, following a January 29 attack claimed by Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) that killed 20 militants. Niger's military junta, in power since a 2023 coup, has struggled to contain jihadist violence plaguing the Sahel for over a decade despite extending the airport perimeter, installing 350+ security cameras, and demolishing nearby shantytowns suspected of harboring insurgents.

While Niger's defence ministry insists the airport remains 'fully secure' and open to air traffic, Flightradar24 showed multiple flights to Niamey were rerouted or delayed. The incident underscores persistent vulnerabilities in regional security as Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali—all under junta rule—continue battling Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated groups amid shifting alliances away from France toward Russia, Iran, and Turkey.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/18/suspected-jihadists-stage-deadly-new-attack-on-niger-airport/