Russian and US troops have been operating out of the same military base in Niger for at least several weeks, a US defense official and another source familiar with the matter told CNN, putting the two militaries in close proximity to each other at a time of heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine and as the country’s ruling junta has made clear it wants US forces to leave.

The West African country said it killed Abu Huzeifa, a commander in an Islamic State affiliate who was involved in a 2017 attack in neighboring Niger that killed American Green Berets and Nigerien forces.

Malian state forces confirmed the death of Abu Huzeifa, who was believed to have helped carry out 2017 attack

A senior Islamic State group commander wanted in connection with one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces in Africa was killed in an operation by Mali's security forces, the country's army said. Abu Huzeifa,

State TV in Mali says a senior Islamic State commander who had a $5m (£4m) US bounty on his head has been killed by a force including troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Abu Huzeifa had been linked to several high-profile raids in the Sahel region.

A senior Islamic State group commander wanted in connection with one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces in Africa has been killed, Mali's army says.