IS fighters overrun two Niger military bases, 38 soldiers confirmed dead
At least 38 Nigerien soldiers killed in two attacks by suspected Islamic State fighters
At least 38 Nigerien soldiers have reportedly been killed in two separate attacks attributed to suspected Islamic State fighters targeting military positions in Niger. The incidents raise concerns over the increasing threat posed by extremist groups in the region.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama provided details regarding the attacks. The first incident occurred on Friday when suspected Islamic State fighters executed a coordinated assault on a military post at Dankassari, located between Doutchi and Yaya in the Dosso Region. Following intense fighting, the attackers overran the forward operating base of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces (FDS). Makama confirmed that at least 21 soldiers were killed in this assault, though the number of injured or missing personnel is still unverified.
“The consolidated casualty figure stood at 21 soldiers killed. The number of wounded or missing personnel was not immediately available,” Makama said.
The report indicated that this attack followed a separate assault earlier the same day on the town of N’Guigmi in the Diffa Region, which resulted in the deaths of 17 members of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces, including an officer. This brings the total death toll among Nigerien security personnel on July 31 to 38.
Makama noted that these attacks highlight the ongoing security challenges facing Niger, despite military operations aimed at combating extremist groups in the Tillabéri, Dosso, Diffa, and Tahoua regions.
Additionally, data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) indicates that over 5,828 individuals, including more than 2,000 members of the country’s Defence and Security Forces, have lost their lives in terrorism-related violence since the military takeover on July 26, 2023.
