05 November 2015•Update: 11 November 2015
NIAMEY, Niger
The Nigerien army hit Boko Haram positions on Thursday after one soldier was killed in an ambush with the armed group, security sources have told Anadolu Agency.
The military deployed combat helicopters which struck Boko Haram in Diffa Region, southeast Niger.
Security officials said the airstrikes were in retaliation for Boko Haram attacks on army positions and civilians.
Last Wednesday, at least 13 people, including one village head, were killed in a Boko Haram attack in Diffa Region, while thousands of villagers living around the Lake Chad area have fled their homes, the Red Cross and security sources told Anadolu Agency.
The airstrike came after Russia’s ambassador to Niger, Alexey Doulouy, and Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou met on Monday in the capital Niamey.
Local and international media reports suggested that Russian forces are likely to intervene against the terrorist group.
“Russia is in solidarity with Niger and other countries in their fight against Boko Haram,” Doulouy said after the meeting.
“We agreed with the president of Niger to joint efforts, coordinate and develop cooperation in security and defense to better fight these evil forces," Doulouy added.
Niger is part of a Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) that was created by Lake Chad Basin countries – Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin – aimed at eradicating the militant group.
