US confirms Russian forces have entered airbase in Niger where US troops are stationed

Defence secretary said ‘Russians are in a separate compound and don’t have access to US forces or equipment’

The US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, has confirmed the deployment of Russian security forces to the same air base as their American counterparts in the Nigerien capital, Niamey.

It remains unclear when the Russian troops, who have been in Niger for weeks, were deployed to Airbase 101, which is next to Diori Hamani international airport in Niamey. It is also unclear how many troops are on the ground.