Details emerging from an attack that killed many in Niger

Jun 19 (Jowhar) - Thirty-five people have died and many others have been injured after armed men attacked Niger's largest airport on Thursday, according to officials.

This attack is the second on this airport in less than five months, and the Niger Ministry of Defense has stated that the casualties include 22 attackers, 11 soldiers, and two civilians.

The responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the Al-Qaeda affiliate Jamaacada Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Niger has been fighting an Islamic group for ten years, and in January, a group linked to ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack on the same airport.

Many weapons including RPG-7 rifles, AK-47 rifles, explosives, hand grenades, communication equipment, and thousands of rounds of ammunition have also been reported seized.

The area around the airport was closed on Thursday afternoon as security forces searched incoming and outgoing vehicles.