Islamic State Bomb Diori Hamani International Airport in Niger

NIAMEY, Niger — Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group carried out a coordinated assault on Diori Hamani International Airport and its adjacent military base in Niger’s capital late Wednesday, officials and security sources said, marking one of the most sophisticated extremist attacks in the Sahel this year.

Gunmen on motorcycles opened fire and detonated explosives shortly after midnight, using heavy weapons and at least one drone in the strike, according to statements attributed to the group’s Amaq News Agency and analysis by the SITE Intelligence Group.

Video footage released by intelligence monitors showed fighters moving freely around the airport tarmac and setting off blasts near parked passenger aircraft before Nigerien security forces regained control of the area early Thursday.

Nigerien authorities reported that 20 attackers were killed and 11 were captured. Four soldiers were wounded in the clashes, and at least three commercial aircraft  two operated by ASKY Airlines and one by Air Côte d’Ivoire  were damaged during the fighting, officials said.

There were no immediate reports of civilian casualties, but explosions and heavy gunfire raised alarm in neighborhoods near the airport.

Niger’s ruling military government, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, accused France, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire of sponsoring the assault, allegations that those countries have denied.

The attack underscores escalating violence by jihadist groups in the Sahel, where fragile politics and persistent insecurity have allowed extremist networks linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda to expand their operations in recent years.