20 soldiers, 1 civilian die in terrorist assault in western Niger
Date
6/26/2024 8:46:04 AM
(MENAFN) 20 Nigerien soldiers as well as one civilian were killed in an assault by a coalition of terrorist groups in western Niger on Tuesday, as reported by the government.
The attack occurred around 10 a.m. local time when militants targeted a detachment of Defense and Security Forces on the outskirts of Tassia village in the Tillaberi region near the tri-border area. The Defense Ministry confirmed that at least 9 other soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.
In response, the military government declared three days of national mourning starting Wednesday, during which flags will be flown at half-mast. The Defense Ministry reported that the army launched a subsequent operation resulting in the neutralization of dozens of terrorists and the destruction of their transportation.
Lt. Gen. Salifou Mody, the Minister of State for National Defense, expressed condolences and affirmed the military's commitment to continuing the fight for national sovereignty.
The Tillaberi region, bordering Burkina Faso and Mali, frequently experiences attacks attributed to ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), a terrorist affiliate.
Niger, under military rule since the ousting of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum last July citing deteriorating security, earlier this year terminated a 2012 defense cooperation agreement with the United States.
MENAFN26062024000045015839ID1108375691
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.