Al Qaeda's Sahel Faction Strikes Niger's Capital, Expanding Beyond Its Base

JNIM, the Sahel's main Al Qaeda affiliate, claimed Thursday's coordinated assault on Niamey airport, which killed 13. It's the group's second attack there in six months, signaling reach beyond its Liptako-Gourma stronghold. France's 2024 expulsion and U.S. withdrawal left intelligence and air-support gaps Niger's junta once relied on post-2023 coup.