Joint airstrikes by Nigeria and the United States have killed 175 Islamic State fighters and several senior commanders in Nigeria’s northeast, the Defence Headquarters said on Tuesday.
The operation, carried out in recent days, targeted Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and broader ISIS-linked networks. The military said the strikes delivered a “devastating blow” to terrorist operations in the region and destroyed several strategic targets.
Among those killed was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by the Nigerian military and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) as IS’s director of global operations.
Officials said al-Minuki oversaw media, financial operations, and the production of weapons, explosives and drones.
He was killed last weekend in a remote village in the northeast.
Other senior figures confirmed dead include Abd-al Wahhab, an ISWAP leader accused of coordinating attacks and propaganda; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, a high-ranking ISWAP member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a senior media manager and close associate of al-Minuki.
AFRICOM commander General Dagvin Anderson told a U.S. Congressional hearing that Nigeria provided critical intelligence and support for the operation.
“Nigeria has been instrumental throughout the last several months, developing the target, helping us with the intelligence, and providing support,” Anderson said.
President Bola Tinubu thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his support following the announcement. Tinubu said he looked forward to “more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.”
The Defence Headquarters said the strikes were part of ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist capacity in the northeast.
Boko Haram and ISWAP have increased attacks on villages, police stations, loggers, fishermen, and military bases in recent months, killing civilians and senior officers.
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The upsurge led Tinubu to declare a nationwide state of emergency in 2025. Trump has also criticized the situation, alleging persecution of Christians in Nigeria, a claim the Nigerian government and most security analysts reject, saying violence affects both Christians and Muslims.
U.S. and Nigerian forces also carried out airstrikes in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, targeting suspected jihadists. AFRICOM has similarly intensified airstrikes against IS and al-Shabaab militants in Somalia this year.
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