Newly released footage shows armed Islamic State (IS) militants moving freely on the tarmac of Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger, during a brazen assault that struck the strategic transport hub and adjacent military base on 28-29 January.
The video, shared by SITE Intelligence Group and analyzed by security experts, captures militants armed with rifles and explosives firing weapons near parked civilian aircraft and military assets, including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a helicopter, which were later seen engulfed in flames. The footage also features militants speaking in Kanuri, a language commonly associated with fighters from the Lake Chad basin, suggesting the involvement of experienced operatives from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) or allied cells.
The attack on the airport, one of Niger’s principal infrastructure sites, began late on January 28 and continued into the early hours of 29 January before Nigerien security forces, reportedly with support from allied troops, regained control. The assault caused significant property damage, including to civilian jets operated by carriers such as ASKY Airlines and Air Côte d’Ivoire, though no civilian passengers or crew were reported killed in the incident.
Authorities said four Nigerien soldiers were wounded during the clash, while government forces killed 20 attackers and detained 11 others, several of whom were reportedly wounded in engagements around the airport complex.
The Islamic State’s Sahel Province claimed responsibility for the coordinated assault, characterizing it as a deliberate attack on Niger’s strategic military and transport infrastructure. The airport hosts both civilian flights and the adjoining Air Base 101, making it a high‑value target for jihadist groups seeking to undermine government authority and disrupt regional security operations.
Niger’s military government has since accused neighbouring states and external powers of allegedly backing the attackers, claims denied by those governments and not independently substantiated.
The incident highlights the expanding operational reach of jihadist militants in the Sahel region, which continues to grapple with insurgencies linked to both Islamic State and al‑Qaeda affiliated groups. In the aftermath, authorities boosted security around the Niamey airport and other critical infrastructure, and the African Union and regional partners condemned the attack as part of a broader campaign of violent extremism.
The attack’s footage and aftermath have drawn international attention to the evolving threat environment in West Africa and underscored ongoing challenges in securing high‑profile civilian and military targets against increasingly sophisticated militant tactics.
