At least 46 soldiers from the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces (SDF) were killed in a devastating attack by militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) on Saturday. The assault targeted an SDF base in Iknewane, located near the Mali border in Niger’s Tahoua Region. Described as a large-scale and highly intense attack, it caught the military off guard.
The heavily armed militants overran the base, destroying nine out of the 16 military vehicles stationed there and looting weapons and ammunition. In response, a military convoy of about 20 vehicles from the Niger Armed Forces (FAN) and the National Guard (GNN) was deployed to the area for operations.