Turkey has delivered six Bayraktar TB2 drones to Niger as part of an arms supply agreement Ankara signed with Niamey in November, Radio France Internationale reported.

The deal includes armored vehicles and the Hurkus light attack aircraft.

Niger bought the drones to improve its ability to fight Islamic State and al-Qaeda-linked groups operating around its three borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.

Niger also plans to build an airbase to house the drones. "These drones complement Niger's surveillance capabilities, but now we need to build the whole system that will allow their use: training pilots and agents in image analysis, maintenance of the devices, spare parts, supply chain, etc.," said a security source.