Niger: For the second time in five months, terrorists strike again at Niamey airport

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, an armed incursion attempt targeted Niamey's Diori-Hamani International Airport. Two Toyota Hilux pickups and a taxi carrying over a dozen people tried to force the main entrance. Defense forces retaliated for nearly two hours, repelling the attackers and conducting sweeps. The human toll remains uncertain, with reported deaths and injuries. This attack comes less than five months after the January 2026 assault claimed by the Islamic State in the Sahel.