Nigeria’s military says joint airstrikes with the United States have killed 175 fighters affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group in Nigeria’s northeast over the past few days. Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) describes the operation as counterterrorism action carried out with the US Africa Command (AFRICOM). Multiple outlets report that the strikes include the deaths of senior IS figures, with one source citing the group’s global second-in-command.
The US sent troops to Nigeria in February, with reporting describing the initial mission as mostly advisory and training. The current operation is presented in the coverage as signaling a more active US role in joint strikes. Both the Nigerian and US sides characterize the effort as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt IS networks and “hunt down and kill” terrorists.
The reports rely on statements from Nigeria’s military and comments from the head of AFRICOM, and they consistently place the action in Nigeria’s northeast, where armed attacks have continued.
