Twelve soldiers killed in terrorist attack in Niger, near Mali border

ALGIERS, April 27 (KUNA) -- The Nigerien army announced that 12 soldiers were killed in an armed attack about 10 kilometers north of Saqqira, near Tillaberi, southwest of the country.
In a statement, the army said the attack, which took place Friday near the Mali border, targeted soldiers involved in Operation Al-Mahaw to combat terrorism, where armed men hiding among civilian camps, launched a surprise attack on the patrol.
The soldiers responded before ground and air reinforcements arrived, forcing the attackers to flee toward Mali, noting that a wide-scale pursuit operation was launched, and two suspects were arrested.
According to statistics from the non-governmental organization Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), armed attacks in Niger have resulted in the deaths of at least 2,400 people across the country since July 2023. (end) mr.ahm