SUNTV Global Channel | June 18, 2026
Panic gripped residents of Niger Republic’s capital, Niamey, on Thursday morning after suspected militants launched a coordinated attack on the city’s international airport, triggering powerful explosions and prolonged gunfire.
According to eyewitness reports, the attack began around 6:00 a.m. local time when multiple explosions were heard near the airport, followed by intense exchanges of gunfire that lasted for more than an hour.
A Reuters witness in Niamey confirmed that the first blasts occurred at dawn, while sporadic gunfire continued nearly two hours later, sending residents scrambling for safety.
Security forces quickly deployed to the area and sealed off access to the airport as efforts intensified to contain the situation and repel the attackers.
As of the time of filing this report, Nigerien authorities had not released an official statement regarding the incident, and government officials were yet to comment on the scale of the attack or possible casualties.
The latest assault highlights the growing security challenges facing Niger and the wider Sahel region, where extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have continued to carry out deadly attacks despite promises by military-led governments to restore stability.
Notably, an Islamic State affiliate previously claimed responsibility for an attack on Niamey’s airport earlier this year, raising fresh concerns over the vulnerability of key national infrastructure.
Niger, alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, remains at the center of a decade-long insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions across the region.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.
