• Islamic State claims responsibility for a surprise attack on Niger's Diori Hamani International Airport.
• The attack resulted in four wounded soldiers and damage to civilian aircraft.
• Niger's military responded by killing 20 attackers, amid accusations against foreign nations.
• The incident highlights growing jihadi violence in the Sahel region.
• Niger has shifted its military alliances towards Russia amid Western withdrawal.

The Islamic State has taken responsibility for a "surprise and coordinated attack" on Niger’s Diori Hamani International Airport, which serves as a military and civilian hub in the country’s capital, Niamey. The group claimed the assault resulted in significant damage, with Niger's government confirming that four soldiers were wounded in the clash and the attackers causing damage to civilian aircraft, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.

Niger's military reported that their forces engaged the attackers shortly after midnight, killing 20 of them and apprehending 11 others. Videos from the scene indicated that detonations were heard and visible flames were seen around the airport, which is crucial for military operations and also hosts uranium stockpiles, according to reports from Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The attack underscores the escalating jihadi violence within the Sahel, a region that has seen intensified operations from various extremist groups. According to the Niger military government, the Islamic State affiliate has been linked to numerous fatalities recently, including attacks that have killed over 120 individuals in Niger’s Tillaberi region and the abduction of an American pilot, as noted by Reuters and Al Jazeera.

In a controversial move, Niger's military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, attributed the attack to foreign nations, notably accusing France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of supporting the extremists. This accusation has been met with skepticism, as evidence was not provided to substantiate the claims, with Benin’s government outright rejecting them, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.