The United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over Nigeria’s northeast region, targeting militants in the Sambisa forest, following air strikes on ISIS fighters in Sokoto State.
A US aircraft, a Gulfstream V, was spotted flying over Borno State, focusing on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the ISIS affiliate operating in the region.
Brant Philip, a Sahel-focused terrorism tracker, disclosed the development on Saturday, sharing flight-tracking data showing a US aircraft flying over Borno State.
“The United States resumed ISR operations today on ISWAP in the Sambisa forest, Borno State in northeast Nigeria, after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto State,” Philip wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He explained that the operation focused on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the ISIS affiliate operating mainly in Nigeria’s north-east and the Lake Chad basin
The operation, which began on November 24, involves tracking an American pilot kidnapped in Niger Republic and gathering intel on militant groups.
This renewed engagement comes after National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu met with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who pledged to work “aggressively” with Nigeria to end persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.
The air strikes, reportedly targeting ISIS-linked militants, were described by President Donald Trump as the “first fulfillment” of his promise, with more strikes to follow.