Sixteen soldiers were killed and 23 others injured on Friday after militants targeted a military convoy in western Niger, state media reported on Sunday.
According to Niger’s ANP news agency, the attack happened in the Tera area of the Tillaberi region, close to the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.
“A terrorist attack targeting a military deployment in the Tera area on Friday, July 17, caused 16 martyrs and 23 wounded, of which nine are serious,” ANP said. The agency also reported that 15 attackers were killed during the clash.
Security operations, including search and sweep efforts, are still ongoing in the area, ANP added.
Niger has been battling jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State for more than 10 years.
The violence has continued since the military took power in July 2023 under leader Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani.
