Nigeria and the United States have conducted new coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State-linked fighters in northeastern Nigeria, according to the US Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The operation, carried out on Sunday, targeted suspected ISIS militants following intelligence reports, with AFRICOM confirming that assessments of the impact are still ongoing. No casualties were reported among Nigerian or US forces involved in the mission.
“Intelligence confirmed the targets were ISIS militants. Complete assessments are ongoing. No US or Nigerian forces were harmed,” AFRICOM said.
The latest strikes come just days after both countries confirmed a separate joint operation that reportedly killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as a senior ISIS commander and the group’s second-in-command globally. He had previously been under US sanctions since 2023.
The renewed military action underscores ongoing efforts to weaken jihadist networks operating in Nigeria’s northeast, a region long affected by insurgent violence from ISIS-linked factions and other extremist groups.
Beyond jihadist activity, the area continues to face overlapping security threats from armed criminal gangs responsible for kidnappings and attacks on rural communities, further complicating Nigeria’s security challenges.
While the US has previously raised concerns about religious dimensions of the violence, the Nigerian government maintains that both Christians and Muslims are equally affected by the ongoing insecurity.
The latest operations signal continued military cooperation between both countries as efforts intensify to contain insurgent groups in the region.