Nigeria-US Joint Airstrikes Kill 175 ISIS Fighters — DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that joint counterterrorism airstrikes conducted by Nigerian forces in collaboration with the United States Africa Command have killed 175 ISIS fighters in Nigeria’s North-East region.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the coordinated operations inflicted significant losses on ISIS and its affiliate group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

According to the DHQ, the airstrikes targeted and destroyed terrorist checkpoints, weapons storage facilities, logistics hubs, military equipment, and financial networks used to support insurgent operations across the region.

The military also confirmed the elimination of several high-ranking terrorist commanders, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as one of the most influential ISIS operatives globally.

Uba stated that al-Minuki played a central role in ISIS external operations, overseeing recruitment, financing, logistics coordination, and the planning of attacks targeting both Nigerians and international interests.

His death, according to the DHQ, represents a major setback for ISIS command structure and significantly disrupts its operational coordination and external attack capabilities.

Other terrorists killed in the operation include Abd-al Wahhab, an ISWAP commander responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda dissemination; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, another senior ISWAP figure; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a senior media operations officer and close ally of al-Minuki.

The Defence Headquarters said the success of the joint strikes reflects the sustained commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in partnership with international allies, to dismantle terrorist networks operating within the country.

It added that the ongoing military campaign is aimed at tracking, neutralising, and eliminating all individuals and cells threatening national security and regional stability.

Uba further assured that the operations would continue across identified terrorist enclaves until insurgent groups are completely degraded and denied the capacity to regroup or launch attacks.

The military maintained that the coordinated strategy has continued to weaken insurgent structures and reduce their operational capabilities across the North-East theatre.