Moscow “strongly condemned” the attack on the capital Niamey airport that killed 20 rebels and wounded four soldiers.

Russian soldiers last week helped repulse an attack claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group on the main airport in Niger’s capital Niamey, according to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that “the attack was repelled thanks to the joint efforts of the Afrika Korps of the Russian Defense Ministry and the Nigerien Armed Forces.”

Niger’s ruling military said earlier that “Russian partners” helped fend off a rare attack on the capital that killed 20 attackers, including a French national, and wounded four army soldiers.

At least 11 militants were also captured, Niger state television reported.

“Moscow strongly condemns this latest extremist attack,” the foreign ministry added in a statement, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

“In September 2024, a similar attack took place at the Malian capital’s international airport. According to available information, external forces providing instructors and technical support were involved,” the ministry said, according to TASS news agency.

The ministry added that Niger’s military chief, Abdourahamane Tchiani, visited a Russian military base in Niamey to express his “personal gratitude” to the Russian military for the “high level of professionalism” shown in defending the airport.

ISIS claims responsibility for ‘sudden and coordinated attack’ on air base Diori Hamani International Airport On the evening of January 28, near Niamey.

A video posted online through the Islamic State-affiliated outlet Amaq showed dozens of attackers armed with assault rifles opening fire near an aircraft hangar, setting a plane on fire and then riding off on motorcycles.

Ulf Lessing, head of the Sahel program at Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation, told The Associated Press that the sophistication and audacity of the attack, including the possible use of drones by the attackers, suggested the attackers may have had inside help.

Lessing said previous successful attacks in the region appeared to have boosted the group’s confidence, leading them to target more sensitive and strategically important locations.

Niger’s military initially accused Benin, France and Ivory Coast of being behind the attack on the airport, which also houses a military base. However, the military provided no evidence to substantiate its claims.

Côte d’Ivoire’s foreign ministry denied the accusation and summoned Niger’s ambassador to convey the protest. Benin also denied the claim, calling it “not very credible”.

France has yet to comment.

Niger is a former French colony that has maintained military presence in the country by 2023.

Russia rarely comments on its military activities in the Sahel, where Moscow has been Expand influence recent years.

Russia, facing isolation since its invasion of Ukraine, has sought to forge new military and political partnerships across Africa.

In addition to Niger, Russian troops or military instructors are reportedly deployed in Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and Libya.

Russian Afrika Korps has taken over Wagner mercenaries Across the continent. According to Moscow, the force helps the Sahel region “fight terrorists” and “strengthen regional stability.”

Over the past decade, Nigerien authorities have been targeting the Al Qaeda-linked Group in Support of Islam and Islam (JNIM) and the Islamic State-affiliated group (EIS) in the Sahel.