Islamic State attack in Niger leaves 46 soldiers dead
On Saturday, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara militants attacked a military base in Niger, killing at least 46 soldiers.
A tragic attack occurred at a Nigerien military base in Iknewane, near the border with Mali. Militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) launched an assault, resulting in the deaths of at least 46 soldiers from Niger's defense and security forces, as reported by the Nigerien armed forces.
The attack was described as a "large-scale and very intense operation." The attackers significantly outnumbered the SDF troops. As a consequence of the attack, nine out of 16 military vehicles were destroyed or seized, with weapons and ammunition also stolen.
Niger responds to the attack
In response to the attack, Niger's military junta dispatched a convoy of about 20 vehicles to the threatened area. Islamic State in the Greater Sahara is a local IS branch operating in western Niger and northeastern Mali.
ISGS has been responsible for numerous attacks in the region, including a 2018 assault in which four American soldiers were killed. The group has also attacked Burkina Faso near the Mali border.
Niger faces challenges from several terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, Islamic State-West Africa (ISIS-WA), and the Al-Qaeda-linked Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).
