Russia Says Its Soldiers Helped Niger Repel Islamic State Attack on Niamey Airport

Russia confirms its troops assisted Niger’s army in repelling an Islamic State attack on Niamey’s main airport, as the Sahel nation accuses neighboring states and France of backing the militants.

Russian soldiers helped Niger’s military stop a rare militant assault on Niamey’s main airport last week—a strike claimed by the Islamic State group—underscoring Moscow’s deepening military involvement in the Sahel amid growing tensions with Western nations.

Niger’s ruling junta reported that “Russian partners” assisted in countering the attack, which left 20 militants dead and four Nigerien soldiers wounded. Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the involvement, stating that the attack was repelled through the “joint efforts” of the country’s African Corps and Niger’s armed forces.

Moscow condemned the extremist offensive and emphasized its continued commitment to supporting Niger’s security forces. Niger’s junta accused Benin, France, and Ivory Coast of sponsoring the attempted assault on the airport, which houses a key military base.

Junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani visited the Russian military base shortly after the incident, delivering what Moscow described as “personal gratitude for a high level of professionalism.”

The deployment of Russia’s African Corps marks a broader shift in the region. The corps, which replaced the Wagner Group’s operations across Africa, has become a centerpiece of Moscow’s efforts to strengthen political, economic, and military ties on the continent as relations with the West deteriorate following the war in Ukraine.

Russian forces or military instructors are also reported in Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, and the Central African Republic. Moscow maintains that its African Corps is focused on counterterrorism operations and regional stabilization.

Niger has spent the last decade fighting Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM militants and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), particularly in the western and southeastern regions. The latest attack highlights the escalating regional threat landscape—as well as Niger’s deepening reliance on Russia amid strained relations with Western partners.