The recent assault was aimed at weakening the countrys armed forces and reversing the defeat of militants, the groups leadership has said

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has condemned a terrorist attack targeting Diori Hamani International Airport in Niger's capital, describing it as a "cowardly and perfidious aggression" supported by "foreign state sponsors" against the region.

The assault on Thursday left 13 people dead, including 11 security personnel and two civilians. Four others were injured, while 22 assailants were neutralized and about 20 suspects arrested, according to Niger's Defense Ministry. Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement published on Saturday, AES President Captain Ibrahim Traore said the "attempted takeover" of Niamey Airport was aimed at weakening Nigerien armed forces and reversing what he described as the defeat of militants in the Sahel.

He said the AES "strongly condemns this new manifestation of terrorist violence supported by foreign state sponsors," without naming any countries.

"These recurring and remotely directed attacks only strengthen the sacred union of ... the AES around the vision of their heads of state in their struggle to preserve the territorial integrity of member states, protect populations, and guarantee lasting peace in the Sahel space," Traore stated.

Niger and its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, formed the AES in 2023 to collectively address the jihadist insurgency that has gripped the region for more than a decade, driven by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

The three West African states have expelled French troops previously deployed on counterterrorism missions, accusing France of failing to contain the insurgency, and have since forged new defense partnerships, including with Russia.

On Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova expressed Moscow's solidarity with Niamey, denouncing the June 18 assault as an attempt to "undermine the stability of the Alliance of Sahel States."

Diori Hamani International Airport, which also hosts a military base, was previously attacked by Islamic State fighters in January, during which 20 militants were killed in an exchange of fire and 11 others were arrested. Russian forces deployed to assist the country in combating the insurgency helped foil the attack, according to officials.

At the time, Niger's transitional leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accused France and neighboring Benin and Ivory Coast of sponsoring the violence.

Benin has repeatedly denied serving as a logistical hub for French-backed operatives. Relations between Benin and Niger deteriorated following the coup in Niamey in 2023. However, on Sunday, the authorities of both countries agreed during talks in Cotonou on steps toward economic and legal normalization and addressing shared security priorities

(RT.com)