Battle of Inates

Battle of Inates (Niger)

Date	10 December 2019
Location	Inates, Tillabéri Region, Niger 15°13′54″N 1°18′46″E / 15.23167°N 1.31278°E / 15.23167; 1.31278
Result	ISGS victory

Belligerents

Niger

Islamic State in the Greater Sahara

Strength

220

150

Casualties and losses

73 killed
12 wounded

Light

v t e Jihadist insurgency in Niger
Battles Tlemsess 1st Tilwa Tabankort Ouraren Adrar Bouss Tchibarakaten Mangaïzé Bosso and Diffa Tazalit Bani Bangou 2nd Tilwa Wanzarbé Abala Midal 1st Tongo Tongo 1st Ayorou 2nd Tongo-Tongo Baley Beri 1st Inates 2nd Inates Sanam Chinagodrar 2nd Ayorou Taroun Intoussan Torodi Intagamey Koutougou Tabatol Teguey Attacks Agadez and Arlit Tillabéri Kouré Tchoma Bangou and Zaroumdareye 1st Darey-Daye Tillia Gaigorou Wiye and Deykoukou 2nd Darey-Daye Adab-Dab Petel Kole Other US military intervention JNIM-ISGS war 2023 coup d'état 2023 crisis
Islamist insurgency in the Sahel

Jihadist insurgency in Niger

Battles

Attacks

Other

Islamist insurgency in the Sahel

On 10 December 2019, a large group of fighters belonging to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara attacked a military post in Inates, Tillabéri Region, Niger. They used guns, bombs, and mortars killing over seventy soldiers and kidnapping others in one of the worst attacks in the history of Niger.

Background

In the preceding months, attacks by the Islamic State in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have worsened with large scale firearm assaults on both the civilian population and armed forces. In November, gunmen killed over 50 soldiers in the 2019 Indelimane attack in the Ménaka Region of Mali. A week later in Burkina Faso, gunmen stormed a convoy of buses for the Boungou miners, killing 37, although some estimate the death toll to be much higher. This attack happened after an attack on another Niger post which resulted in the killing of three Nigerian soldiers and 14 of the assailants.

Attack

A large group of gunmen stormed the base firing mortars and shooting as many soldiers as possible. The attackers included suicide bombers. The spokesman for the ministry stated that many of the attackers were neutralized by friendly forces. The attack killed 71 soldiers and injured 12 others. 30 more soldiers remained missing after the attack. Following this attack, the president, Mahamadou Issoufou, decided to cancel his trip to Egypt.

Aftermath

On 12 December, The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack through its local branch.

References

Burke, Jason (11 December 2019). "More than 70 soldiers feared killed in ambush in Niger". The Guardian. Jason Burke. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
"At least 70 soldiers killed in attack on Niger military camp". France 24. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
Paquette, Danielle. "More than 70 soldiers killed in attack on military base in western Niger". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
Givas, Nick (11 December 2019). "Niger military post ambushed by suspected Islamic militants, at least 70 soldiers killed, officials say". Fox News. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
"Militants kill 54 in attack on Mali army post, ISIS claims responsibility". NBC News. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
"'So many dead': Survivors describe terrifying Burkina Faso ambush". Reuters. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
"AFP.com". AFP.com. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
^ "Scores of soldiers killed in Niger base attack". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
^ "71 Soldiers Killed In Attack On Army Camp In Niger". NPR. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
"Islamic State claims responsibility for military camp attack in Niger: statement". Reuters. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.

Categories: