Twenty killed, four injured in jihadists Niger airport attack

This handout satellite image taken by 2026 Planet Labs PBC on January 29, 2026 shows the Niamey airport in Niger, where damage is visible on the roofs of hangars. [AFP]

Niger's main airport in the capital Niamey was targeted in an attack claimed on Friday by the Islamic State (IS) group, a rare development in a country where jihadist violence is usually contained to the west and southeast.

The ruling junta said Thursday's attack had been repelled by its soldiers with the help of "Russian partners" and accused Benin, France and Ivory Coast of sponsoring the assailants.