Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Coordinated Assault on Niamey Airport
NIAMEY, Jan 30 – The Islamic State (IS) jihadist group has claimed responsibility for a coordinated assault on the international airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, according to a statement tracked by the SITE Intelligence Group on Friday. The attack underscores the persistent threat posed by extremist factions in the volatile Sahel region.
In its claim, IS described the operation as a "surprise and coordinated attack" that inflicted "significant damage." The group's affiliate in the region, known as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), has been linked to a brutal campaign of violence in recent months, including raids that killed over 120 people in the Tillabéri region last September and the abduction of an American aid worker in October.
According to an official statement from the Nigerien government, assailants arrived at the airport perimeter on motorcycles but were "quickly repelled" by security forces. In the ensuing firefight, four soldiers were wounded. The government also reported material losses, including a stash of ammunition that caught fire and damage to several civilian aircraft on the tarmac. No civilian casualties were immediately reported.
The targeting of Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport, a key civilian and logistical hub, represents an escalation in tactics aimed at striking symbols of state authority and disrupting economic activity. Security analysts note that such attacks are designed to undermine public confidence and demonstrate the reach of jihadist cells despite ongoing regional counter-terrorism efforts.
Reporting by Jessica Donati; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet
Reactions & Analysis
Dr. Amadou Sissoko, Security Analyst based in Bamako: "This attack is a stark reminder that despite military gains, the threat is adaptive. Targeting infrastructure like an airport is a psychological blow, intended to project power far beyond the militants' actual territorial control."
Fatima Idriss, Humanitarian Worker in Niamey: "We are heartbroken but not surprised. The violence keeps creeping closer to the heart of our cities. Every life disrupted, every plane grounded, deepens the hardship for ordinary people just trying to live in peace."
Col. (Ret.) Jean-Luc Moreau, Former French Military Advisor in the Sahel: "It's a predictable failure of intelligence and perimeter security. The Niamey airport should be a fortress. This isn't just an 'attack'—it's a glaring embarrassment for the regime and its international partners who've poured billions into 'stabilizing' the region."
Khadija Touré, University Student in Niamey: "When will it end? We study, we work, we build, and then motorcycles of terror roll up to our airport. The world watches these headlines and moves on, but we live with the constant fear. Our leaders must do more than issue statements."