JNIM Commandos Storm Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport and Air Base 101 — 13 Killed, 22 Attackers Killed (June 18, 2026)

Plainclothes JNIM commandos, including suicide bombers wearing explosive belts, attempted to infiltrate Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey aboard taxis and a van in the early hours of June 18, 2026, attacking a security checkpoint before some fighters breached the perimeter. The assault lasted nearly two hours before Nigerien security forces repelled it and sealed off the surrounding area; some attackers dispersed into nearby neighborhoods before being hunted down. The airport hosts Air Base 101, which stations Russian Africa Corps personnel, an Italian support mission, and other international military contingents — making it one of the highest-value military/aviation targets in the country. CASUALTIES: • 13 killed (11 soldiers, 2 civilians) • 4 injured • 22 attackers killed • 20 suspects arrested Security forces recovered RPG-7 launchers, AK-47 rifles, explosives, grenades, and ammunition from the attackers. JNIM claimed responsibility hours after the assault. This was the second attack on the same airport facility in 2026, following a January 2026 assault attributed to Islamic State Sahel Province — underscoring the outbidding dynamic between the two rival jihadist networks operating in Niger's capital region.