Explosions and sustained gunfire were heard early Thursday at the airport and military airbase in Niger’s capital, Niamey, in what a security source described as an apparent attack on the facility.

Witnesses said the first explosions occurred at about 6 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), with sporadic gunfire continuing for nearly two hours afterwards. Security forces reportedly sealed off the area as the incident unfolded.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, and a government spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The incident comes months after an Islamic State affiliate operating in the region claimed responsibility for an attack on the same airport in January.

At the time, the group said it had targeted air command headquarters and drone assets, claiming to have “delivered a direct blow” to the Sahel country’s counterinsurgency operations.Niger, alongside its Sahel neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, has faced persistent attacks from jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

The violence has killed thousands of people and displaced millions across the three countries.

According to witnesses, explosions and gunfire echoed across the area on Thursday morning as security personnel moved to secure the facility.

Following the January attack, Niger’s Defence Ministry said militants arrived on motorcycles but were swiftly repelled by security forces. Four soldiers were wounded during the assault. ▼

……End to Iran’s nuclear weapon ambition, $300 billion reconstruction aid.

The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, with a formal ceremony scheduled for Friday in Switzerland to initiate a 60-day negotiation period.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed the agreement during a candlelit dinner at the Palace of Versailles on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the event, joined other guests in applauding the moment, according to a video shared by a Trump aide.

The memorandum seeks to bring an end to months of regional turmoil that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. The strikes triggered widespread chaos across the Middle East and sent shockwaves through the global economy.

Details of the upcoming Swiss ceremony and the scope of the negotiations were not immediately released, but officials described the agreement as a critical first step toward de-escalation. Further announcements are expected following Friday’s event.

The United States on Wednesday read out the text of the interim U.S.-Iran agreement to halt the war in Iran and open the Strait of Hormuz.

The agreement, read to reporters by a senior U.S. official, outlines in 14 points a high-level understanding that defers many of the most difficult issues, such as how to wind down Iran’s nuclear program, until a final deal is reached.

It paves the way for a broader 60-day negotiation period due to begin in Switzerland on Friday.

According to Reuters, here is the full document, titled “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran:

1. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the ‌current war, by signing this MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and other provisions of this paragraph.

2. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.

3. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days extendable with mutual consent.

4. Immediately upon the signing of this MOU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days.

During this period, ⁠the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran”

The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.

5. Upon the signing of this MOU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start and, considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles and de-mining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days.

The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialog with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.

6. The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least USD 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers, and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.

7. The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, i.e. IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral U.S. sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed upon schedule as part of the ‌final deal. The ⁠Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned and express their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.

8. The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons.

The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon, in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven with the minimum methodology to be down blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph.

The United States of America and the ⁠Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.

9. Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region.

10. The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MOU and until the termination of sanctions, ⁠U.S. Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.

11. The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Upon the implementation of this MOU, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during the negotiation. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable ⁠for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly.

12. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MOU and the future compliance of the final deal.

13. After signing this MOU, and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1,4,5,10 and 11 of this MOU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.

14. The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution.