Nigerian authorities predicted continued US strikes against terrorist targets in the country’s north, following an operation carried out by American forces on Thursday evening as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts coordinated with Nigeria and other regional partners.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar told a local television station that the US operations are part of ongoing security coordination, noting that “Nigeria provided the intelligence” enabling precise targeting. He added that the country is working closely with the US and other nations to ensure operational effectiveness and maintain stability in northern Nigeria, which has long faced militant activity, including from ISIS and its regional affiliates.
Tuggar revealed that he held two phone calls with US counterpart Senator Marco Rubio regarding the operation. The first lasted 19 minutes before the strike to exchange updates and coordinate targets, while the second took place five minutes prior to the strike to review final procedures and ensure precision while minimizing civilian risk.
US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strikes targeted ISIS positions in Sokoto State, northern Nigeria, conducted “under the direction of the US President and Secretary of Defense, and in full coordination with Nigerian authorities.” AFRICOM confirmed that the strikes are part of a broader counterterrorism strategy in the Sahel and West Africa, involving intelligence gathering and precise attacks on terrorist leadership to limit their operational capabilities.