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| Niger ambush: Militants kill 17 soldiers near Mali | Niger ambush: Militants kill 17 soldiers near Mali |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Militants have killed 17 Nigerien soldiers in an ambush near the border with Mali, Niger government spokesman has told the BBC. | Militants have killed 17 Nigerien soldiers in an ambush near the border with Mali, Niger government spokesman has told the BBC. |
| Eleven soldiers are missing after the attack near the western village of Tongo Tongo, Abdourahaman Zakariyyah said. | Eleven soldiers are missing after the attack near the western village of Tongo Tongo, Abdourahaman Zakariyyah said. |
| Militants killed four US soldiers at the same place in 2017. | |
| Niger and other countries in the Sahel have been facing a growing militant threat from several Islamist groups. | Niger and other countries in the Sahel have been facing a growing militant threat from several Islamist groups. |
| Militants belonging to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) - an affiliate of al-Qaeda - are active in the region and are known to conduct cross-border raids. | Militants belonging to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) - an affiliate of al-Qaeda - are active in the region and are known to conduct cross-border raids. |
| They are most active in neighbouring Mali, where French troops intervened in 2013 to prevent them from advancing on the capital. | They are most active in neighbouring Mali, where French troops intervened in 2013 to prevent them from advancing on the capital. |
| Mr Zakariyyah said the soldiers were in pursuit of militants who attacked a high security prison 50km (30 miles) on Tuesday outside the capital, Niamey. | Mr Zakariyyah said the soldiers were in pursuit of militants who attacked a high security prison 50km (30 miles) on Tuesday outside the capital, Niamey. |
| "One of the soldiers' vehicles drove into a landmine and then the assailants started firing at our soldiers," Mr Zakariyyah told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. | "One of the soldiers' vehicles drove into a landmine and then the assailants started firing at our soldiers," Mr Zakariyyah told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. |
| He did not identify the perpetrators of the attack but said it happened near where US troops and five Niger soldiers were killed two years ago. | He did not identify the perpetrators of the attack but said it happened near where US troops and five Niger soldiers were killed two years ago. |
| Six injured soldiers have been evacuated to a hospital in the capital, as a search operation, aided by French and American troops, who have a base in Niger, continue, Mr Zakariyyah said. | Six injured soldiers have been evacuated to a hospital in the capital, as a search operation, aided by French and American troops, who have a base in Niger, continue, Mr Zakariyyah said. |
| Niger is part of a five nation anti-insurgency force operating in the Sahel. It includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Mauritania. | Niger is part of a five nation anti-insurgency force operating in the Sahel. It includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Mauritania. |
| The G5 Sahel, as it is called, is backed by a 3,000-strong French force. | The G5 Sahel, as it is called, is backed by a 3,000-strong French force. |