Rampant jihadist violence claims lives of a dozen soldiers in Niger

Suspected rebels attacked a military unit in southwest Niger, killing seven soldiers. In a tragic turn of events, five additional soldiers died in a traffic accident while responding to the assault. The attack comes as France prepares to withdraw its counterinsurgency force from the country, as requested by Niger's new military leaders who seized power in a coup two months ago. The region where the attack occurred is known for being a hideout for rebels affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. The deteriorating security situation in Niger has been cited as justification for the coup. The United States is also evaluating its future steps following France's announcement of troop withdrawal.