"The brazen attack on the international airport and nearby military airbase in Niamey, Niger's capital, came overnight between January 28 and 29. Balls of orange fire flew across the sky as the Nigerien army attempted to respond while residents ducked for cover and whispered prayers, as shown in videos on social media. ISIL (ISIS) in Sahel Province, or ISSP a Niger-based outfit earlier known as the ISIL affiliate in the Greater Sahara or ISGS has since claimed responsibility"
"Analysts say the daring attack shows ISSP's growing confidence at a time when the swarm of armed groups operating across the troubled Sahel region in Western Africa is expanding its areas of operation with advanced technology. Many of its fighters had breached military drone hangars using RPGs and mortars, and managed to damage several aircraft and one civilian aeroplane, according to videos from the group."
A brazen overnight attack on Niamey's international airport and adjacent military airbase between January 28 and 29 produced balls of orange fire and nocturnal gunfire as residents sheltered and the Nigerien army responded. ISIL in Sahel Province (ISSP), formerly ISGS, claimed responsibility and reported several soldiers killed, a claim the Nigerien army disputes. Videos show fighters breaching military drone hangars with RPGs and mortars, damaging several aircraft and one civilian aeroplane. Reported use or deployment of a drone in the assault mirrors a region-wide trend of explosives-laden drones and marks a dangerous operational escalation.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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