Ahmad 
The Nigerien army reported deadly attacks by militants in the Tillaberi region, near the border with Burkina Faso, killing 15 civilians and wounding others this week.
A statement issued by the army on Wednesday evening said that terrorist elements had committed “heinous acts of violence” against civilians in the Mehana region, resulting in human losses. The statement did not specify the exact date of these incidents.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, one person was killed, and three others were wounded in clashes between troops and a group of militants in the same area.
The Sahel region, particularly Niger and its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, has been witnessing an escalation in hostilities since 2012, as these countries face increasing security challenges from extremist armed groups. The ongoing violence has contributed to the displacement of more than three million people, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Niger has been exposed to an increase in terrorist activity in 2024, leading to an increase in attacks and deaths related to terrorism; The most notable of these was an attack in the Tillaberi region on June 25, 2024, and another in western Niger that killed 20 soldiers and civilians. The attack took place in the Tasia region of Tillaberi, an area known for being attacked by groups linked to ISIS.
The authorities in Niger accuse both the United States and France of supporting terrorist groups in carrying out their attacks in retaliation for the expulsion of the two countries from their bases in the country.
The arrival of Russian experts to assist Niger in building its army and fighting terrorism (video)