The government of Niger has reported that at least 15 soldiers have been killed by armed militants near the nation's border with Burkina Faso.

On Tuesday, the Niger Ministry of Defense announced that at least 15 soldiers had been killed during a combat operation near the border with Burkina Faso.

The Ministry, in a communiqué read on state television, detailed that the incident occurred on Monday, July 22. During this operation, a unit of the defense and security forces engaged in gunfire with armed terrorist groups along the Bankilare-Tera route, close to the village of Foneko. This communiqué provided an initial report indicating that 15 soldiers had died.

Additionally, the Ministry reported that three soldiers were missing, with 16 others injured and currently hospitalized. The communiqué further noted that 21 "terrorists" had been killed during the clashes in the Tillaberi region.

The communiqué explained that the "prompt intervention of reinforcements from Tera" had forced the armed groups to retreat to the north.

This attack occurred nearly a year after a military coup, which the army had justified by referencing the worsening security conditions in the country. A year later, armed groups have continued their attacks in the Tillaberi region, with recent violent confrontations resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.

Despite the large-scale deployment of troops and a junta commitment to increase military forces fourfold by 2030, civilians have also been impacted by the unrest. However, precise casualty figures remain imprecise due to limited independent verification.

Tera serves as a crucial intersection for thousands of cargo trucks arriving monthly from the port of Lome in Togo, traveling through northern Burkina Faso. These trucks are escorted by troops from both neighboring countries.

In a related incident, four weeks ago, an attack by armed groups in the same region resulted in the deaths of 20 soldiers and one civilian. In retaliation, the army claimed to have killed "more than 100 terrorists." Earlier this month, seven civilians were killed in the nearby village of Dosso Kouregou.

Niger is also dealing with violence in its southeastern region, where Boko Haram operates.

General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military leader, has declared Friday an official holiday to mark the one-year anniversary of the overthrow of elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

Since assuming power, the junta has radically shifted its international relations. It requested that France, the former colonial power, withdraw its troops, who had been involved in combating militant groups in Niger. By mid-September, a U.S. contingent is also expected to vacate an important drone base located in Agadez in the north.

Instead, Niamey has been building stronger ties with Iran, Türkiye, and Russia, the latter of which sent military instructors to Niger in April and May.

On a regional scale, Niger has been working to strengthen relations with Burkina Faso and Mali, both of which are also governed by military juntas following recent coups.