Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have successfully foiled a terrorist attack on Kukareta in the early hours of Thursday, inflicting heavy losses on the assailants and recovering a large cache of weapons.

According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the attack began shortly after midnight on April 23, 2026, and lasted until about 3:00 a.m. The troops, operating under Sector 2, responded swiftly with a coordinated offensive-defensive strategy that effectively contained the assault and forced the attackers to retreat in disarray.

During the engagement, at least 24 terrorists were neutralised, while troops recovered a significant number of weapons and ammunition from the battlefield. The recovered items include 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, three RPG tubes, two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of 7.62mm belted ammunition.

The statement noted that two soldiers sustained injuries during the operation and have since been stabilised. Additionally, one reinforcing armoured tank was damaged, with its tyres blown out in the course of the fighting.

Troops have continued exploitation operations in the area, tracking the retreating terrorists along routes marked by bloodstains and abandoned medical supplies, with efforts ongoing to recover more bodies and equipment.

The military described the operation as a demonstration of the troops’ resilience, combat readiness, and firepower in denying terrorists freedom of action. It added that sustained offensive operations would continue across the Joint Operations Area to consolidate gains and eliminate remaining terrorist elements.