Nigeria and US Military Operation Kills 175 ISIS Fighters

Abuja. 175 fighters of ISIS and its West African branch ISIL have been killed in a joint military operation by Nigeria and the United States. The Nigerian army has praised the joint operation, calling it part of a campaign to find and eliminate terrorists.

According to the Nigerian Defense Headquarters, checkpoints, arms depots, logistics centers, military equipment, and financial networks of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) affiliated with ISIL were destroyed in air and ground operations conducted in collaboration with the US military's Africa Command (AFRICOM).

In a statement released on Tuesday, Defense Spokesperson Major General Jibrin Al-Amin claimed that 175 ISIS terrorists were eliminated from the battlefield as of the assessment on May 19, 2026. He claimed that these operations have dealt a major blow to the terrorist insurgency that has been ongoing for years.

Nigeria and the United States have stated that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, considered the second-highest commander of ISIS globally, was also killed in the joint attack. He was also known by the name 'Abu-Mainok'. According to the Nigerian army, al-Minuki was leading ISIS activities, financial networks, propaganda mechanisms, arms production, and attack plans across the Sahel and West Africa.

The Nigerian army has also stated that another senior member of ISWAP, Abd-al Wahab, Abu Musa al-Mangawi, and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir were killed in the same operation. They are said to have been active in the group's propaganda, attack planning, and communication networks.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu thanked US President Donald Trump on social media for his unwavering support and leadership. Praising the professionalism and courage of the soldiers involved in the joint operation, he also expressed expectations for more decisive action against all terrorist strongholds across the country.

Analysis has been published suggesting that ISIL has shifted its activities towards Africa after suffering continuous defeats in West Asia. According to the conflict monitoring organization ACLED, 86 percent of ISIS's global activities in the first three months of 2026 were concentrated in Africa.

The Lake Chad Basin region, in particular, has long been a center of terrorist violence. Groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have been carrying out violent activities there for years.

The United States sent troops to Nigeria in February. Although initially stated to be in a training and advisory role, recent joint operations indicate increasing direct US military involvement.

AFRICOM confirmed on Sunday that further kinetic strikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government. No casualties were reported among both US and Nigerian soldiers. However, human rights groups have expressed concern, citing past civilian casualties in Nigerian army airstrikes.

There were also allegations of over a hundred civilians being killed in another airstrike recently in a market area in the northwestern Zamfara state.