US Military Conducts Additional Strikes Against ISIS Targets in Nigeria
Follow-up operation kills more than 20 militants days after elimination of global second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
ABUJA / STUTTGART — The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), in continued coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, conducted additional air strikes against Islamic State militants in northeastern Nigeria on Sunday, marking the second major joint operation in just three days .
The latest strikes targeted terrorist hideouts in the Metele area of northern Borno State, a known flashpoint for insurgent activity in the Lake Chad Basin region . According to Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, the operation resulted in the elimination of more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters .
AFRICOM confirmed that no U.S. or Nigerian personnel were harmed during the strikes, stating that “intelligence confirmed the targets were ISIS militants” and that “complete assessments are ongoing” .
Sustained Campaign Following High-Value Target Elimination
The fresh strikes come just two days after a joint U.S.-Nigerian operation killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by President Donald Trump as the global second-in-command of ISIS and “the most active terrorist in the world” .
That initial operation, conducted on Friday, May 15, targeted al-Minuki’s compound in the Lake Chad Basin and also eliminated several of his key lieutenants . Al-Minuki, a Nigerian national born in Borno State in 1982, had been under U.S. sanctions since 2023 and served as a director of global operations for ISIS, providing strategic guidance on media, financial operations, and weapons development .
The Defence Headquarters described the ongoing strikes as “part of sustained efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, remove them from the battlefield and deny the terrorists any safe haven within Nigeria” .
Official Statements
U.S. Africa Command
AFRICOM posted video footage of the strike on social media platform X, alongside a statement confirming the operation . General Dagvin Anderson, commander of AFRICOM, previously emphasized the growing U.S.-Nigeria partnership following Friday’s operation, stating: “Make no mistake, our two nations will relentlessly pursue and neutralize terrorist threats and are committed to protecting our people and interests” .
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters
Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, released an official statement confirming the results of Sunday’s operation:
“Following observed convergence and migration of terrorist elements, multiple air strikes were conducted resulting in the elimination of more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters. The ongoing operations follow the neutralisation of ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and are part of sustained efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, remove them from the battlefield and deny the terrorists any safe haven within Nigeria” .
He further reaffirmed the military’s commitment, stating: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to aggressively defend the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the nation. Terrorists who threaten our citizens, communities and national stability will be located and defeated. There will be no safe haven for all terrorists anywhere in Nigeria” .
The Strategic Context: Expanded U.S. Engagement in Nigeria
The consecutive operations represent a significant intensification of U.S. military engagement in West Africa. Earlier this year, the United States deployed approximately 200 personnel to Nigeria focused on training and intelligence support for Nigerian forces battling Islamist militants .
This deployment followed Christmas Day airstrikes in 2025 ordered by Trump against Islamic extremists in the country, at which time the President warned that if terrorists “did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay” .
The security situation in northern Nigeria has been in disarray for over a decade. Various Islamist militant groups, including ISIS-affiliated factions and Boko Haram, have long been active in the region, with both Christians and Muslims falling victim to extremist attacks .
Operational Details and Methodology
According to Nigerian military officials, the latest strikes were based on “credible intelligence indicating the movement and convergence of terrorist elements” in the Metele area . The operation was carried out in close coordination between AFRICOM and Nigerian forces, following the successful pattern established during Friday’s high-value target mission.
The Nigerian military had reportedly tracked al-Minuki for months prior to Friday’s operation, utilizing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts including communications monitoring and phone intercepts dating back to December 2025 . Security officials disclosed that efforts initially focused on capturing him alive rather than eliminating him, explaining why he was under surveillance in multiple locations, including Abuja and Maiduguri, in the days leading up to the final operation .
Historical Context: Addressing Controversy Over Previous Claims
The confirmed elimination of al-Minuki resolves a previous case of mistaken identity. In 2024, Nigerian forces had erroneously reported the death of the same commander during operations in the Birnin Gwari forest axis in Kaduna State . Security officials now clarify that the earlier listing was “a case of mistaken identity or misattribution in the fog of sustained counterinsurgency operations,” noting that the Birnin Gwari theatre was never within al-Minuki’s established operational sphere .
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga addressed the controversy, explaining that modern counterterrorism history contains similar cases of initial uncertainty, “particularly in complex environments where insurgent networks operate across difficult terrain and rely heavily on aliases, fragmented identities, and misinformation” .
What This Means for Regional Security
The successful consecutive strikes signal a new phase in the U.S.-Nigerian counterterrorism partnership. The elimination of al-Minuki—described by AFRICOM as a figure who “provided strategic guidance to the ISIS global network on media and financial operations as well as the development and manufacturing of weapons, explosives and drones”—represents a significant blow to the organization’s global command structure .
However, the continued presence of ISIS-affiliated fighters in the region, as evidenced by the need for follow-up strikes just days later, underscores the resilience of the group’s local networks. The Defence Headquarters has made clear that “there will be no safe haven for terrorists anywhere in Nigeria,” suggesting that further operations are likely as intelligence continues to be gathered and analyzed .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: When did the latest US strikes against ISIS in Nigeria take place?
A: The additional air strikes were conducted on Sunday, May 17, 2026, just two days after the initial operation that killed ISIS global second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki .
Q2: How many militants were killed in the latest strikes?
A: According to Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters were eliminated during the operation .
Q3: Where did the strikes occur?
A: The strikes targeted terrorist hideouts in the Metele area of northern Borno State, in the Lake Chad Basin region of northeastern Nigeria .
Q4: Were there any casualties among US or Nigerian forces?
A: No. AFRICOM confirmed that “no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed” during the strikes .
Q5: How does this relate to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki?
A: The Sunday strikes are part of a sustained follow-up campaign to disrupt terrorist networks following al-Minuki’s elimination. The Defence Headquarters stated that “the ongoing operations follow the neutralisation of ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and are part of sustained efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, remove them from the battlefield and deny the terrorists any safe haven within Nigeria” .
Q6: Who was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki?
A: Al-Minuki was described by President Trump as the global second-in-command of ISIS and “the most active terrorist in the world.” A Nigerian national born in Borno State in 1982, he had been under U.S. sanctions since 2023 and served as a director of global operations for ISIS, providing strategic guidance on media, financial operations, weapons development, and drone manufacturing .
Q7: Is this a new level of US military involvement in Nigeria?
A: Yes. The operations follow the deployment of approximately 200 U.S. personnel to Nigeria earlier this year for training and intelligence support. This represents an intensification of U.S. military engagement in West Africa following Christmas Day airstrikes in 2025 .
Q8: Why was there confusion about whether al-Minuki had been killed before?
A: In 2024, Nigerian forces erroneously reported the death of the same commander during operations in Kaduna State. Security officials now confirm that was “a case of mistaken identity or misattribution in the fog of sustained counterinsurgency operations,” noting that the earlier operational area was never within al-Minuki’s established sphere of activity .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on U.S.-Nigerian counterterrorism operations as more information becomes available from AFRICOM and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters.