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U.S. and Nigerian forces killed 175 Islamic State (IS) fighters in a series of joint strikes in northeastern Nigeria in recent days, according to Nigeria's Defence Headquarters said Tuesday. The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the toll and said no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.

Sahara Reporters

U.S. and Nigerian forces killed 175 Islamic State (IS) fighters in a series of joint strikes in northeastern Nigeria in recent days, according to Nigeria's Defence Headquarters said Tuesday. The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the toll and said no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.

An operation on May 16 killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as IS's second-in-command for global operations. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.improvethenews.org/story/2026/usnigeria-forces-kill-isis-no-in-borno-strike">U.S. President Donald Trump announced the strike</a> on Truth Social, saying al-Minuki "will no longer terrorize" the African people, or "help plan operations to target Americans."

Donald Trump

An operation on May 16 killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as IS's second-in-command for global operations. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the strike on Truth Social, saying al-Minuki "will no longer terrorize" the African people, or "help plan operations to target Americans."

Al-Minuki, a Nigerian from Borno State, rose through Boko Haram before joining Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) after the group splintered in 2016. The U.S. State Department designated him a specially designated global terrorist in 2023.

Al-Minuki, a Nigerian from Borno State, rose through Boko Haram before joining Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) after the group splintered in 2016. The U.S. State Department designated him a specially designated global terrorist in 2023.

AFRICOM conducted additional strikes in the following days, destroying IS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs and financial networks. The operations also killed senior ISWAP figures Abd-al Wahhab, Abu Musa al-Mangawi, and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir.

AFRICOM conducted additional strikes in the following days, destroying IS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs and financial networks. The operations also killed senior ISWAP figures Abd-al Wahhab, Abu Musa al-Mangawi, and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir.

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/-us-troops-deploy-to-nigeria-for-training-mission">The U.S. sent roughly 200 troops to Nigeria in February 2026</a> in an advisory and training role, but the May strikes signal a more active involvement. AFRICOM commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson told Congress that Nigeria was "instrumental" in developing targets and providing intelligence.

The U.S. sent roughly 200 troops to Nigeria in February 2026 in an advisory and training role, but the May strikes signal a more active involvement. AFRICOM commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson told Congress that Nigeria was "instrumental" in developing targets and providing intelligence.

Africa accounted for 86% of IS's global activity in the first quarter of 2026, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Anderson told lawmakers that "the epicenter of global terrorism is in Africa" and warned of a growing intelligence gap in the Sahel following the U.S. withdrawal from Niger.

Africa accounted for 86% of IS's global activity in the first quarter of 2026, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Anderson told lawmakers that "the epicenter of global terrorism is in Africa" and warned of a growing intelligence gap in the Sahel following the U.S. withdrawal from Niger.

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U.S. and Nigerian forces killed 175 Islamic State fighters in a series of joint strikes in northeastern Nigeria between May 16 and May 18, 2026, according to Nigeria's Defence Headquarters. AFRICOM confirmed the toll and said no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.

U.S. and Nigerian forces killed 175 Islamic State fighters in a series of joint strikes in northeastern Nigeria between May 16 and May 18, 2026, according to Nigeria's Defence Headquarters. AFRICOM confirmed the toll and said no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.

The operation on May 16 killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS's second-in-command for global operations. Trump announced the strike on Truth Social, saying al-Minuki "will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans."

The operation on May 16 killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS's second-in-command for global operations. Trump announced the strike on Truth Social, saying al-Minuki "will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans."

Al-Minuki, a Nigerian from Borno State, rose through Boko Haram before joining ISWAP after the group splintered in 2016. The U.S. State Department designated him a specially designated global terrorist in 2023.

Al-Minuki, a Nigerian from Borno State, rose through Boko Haram before joining ISWAP after the group splintered in 2016. The U.S. State Department designated him a specially designated global terrorist in 2023.

AFRICOM conducted additional strikes on May 17 and May 18, destroying ISIS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs and financial networks. The operations also killed senior ISWAP figures Abd-al Wahhab, Abu Musa al-Mangawi and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir.

AFRICOM conducted additional strikes on May 17 and May 18, destroying ISIS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs and financial networks. The operations also killed senior ISWAP figures Abd-al Wahhab, Abu Musa al-Mangawi and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir.

The U.S. sent roughly 200 troops to Nigeria in February 2026 in an advisory and training role, but the May strikes signal a more active involvement. AFRICOM commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson told Congress that Nigeria was "instrumental" in developing targets and providing intelligence.

Africa accounted for 86 percent of ISIS's global activity in the first quarter of 2026, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Anderson told lawmakers that "the epicenter of global terrorism is in Africa" and warned of a growing intelligence gap in the Sahel following the U.S. withdrawal from Niger.

Africa accounted for 86 percent of ISIS's global activity in the first quarter of 2026, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Anderson told lawmakers that "the epicenter of global terrorism is in Africa" and warned of a growing intelligence gap in the Sahel following the U.S. withdrawal from Niger.

Killing al-Minuki is a real blow to ISIS, but one strike doesn't fix Nigeria's security crisis. ISWAP has overrun military super camps, sleeper cells are targeting Abuja's airport and prisons, and over 3.7 million Nigerians are displaced. Without a sustained counterinsurgency strategy that cuts jihadists off from ungoverned spaces, these strikes are just headlines — the underlying collapse continues.

Killing al-Minuki is a real blow to ISIS, but one strike doesn't fix Nigeria's security crisis. ISWAP has overrun military super camps, sleeper cells are targeting Abuja's airport and prisons, and over 3.7 million Nigerians are displaced. Without a sustained counterinsurgency strategy that cuts jihadists off from ungoverned spaces, these strikes are just headlines — the underlying collapse continues.

The US-Nigeria partnership just delivered a decisive counterterrorism win — 175 ISIS fighters eliminated, al-Minuki taken off the battlefield, and key financial networks destroyed. AFRICOM Gen. Anderson called al-Minuki the most active and impactful terrorist in the world, and his removal severely disrupts ISIS command globally. The joint operations aren't stopping — Nigeria's military confirmed the hunt continues until every threat is neutralized.

The US-Nigeria partnership just delivered a decisive counterterrorism win — 175 ISIS fighters eliminated, al-Minuki taken off the battlefield, and key financial networks destroyed. AFRICOM Gen. Anderson called al-Minuki the most active and impactful terrorist in the world, and his removal severely disrupts ISIS command globally. The joint operations aren't stopping — Nigeria's military confirmed the hunt continues until every threat is neutralized.

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The U.S.-Nigeria operation may have killed 175 ISIS fighters and eliminated al-Minuki, but counterterrorism body counts have never resolved the deeper conditions fueling extremism in the Sahel and Lake Chad region. Militant groups have repeatedly regrouped despite years of operations, while weak governance, displacement and local insecurity keep recruitment alive. Killing commanders can disrupt networks temporarily — but that is not the same as winning the war.

The U.S.-Nigeria operation may have killed 175 ISIS fighters and eliminated al-Minuki, but counterterrorism body counts have never resolved the deeper conditions fueling extremism in the Sahel and Lake Chad region. Militant groups have repeatedly regrouped despite years of operations, while weak governance, displacement and local insecurity keep recruitment alive. Killing commanders can disrupt networks temporarily — but that is not the same as winning the war.

There is a 22% chance that Nigeria will experience a civil war before 2036, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 22% chance that Nigeria will experience a civil war before 2036, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

US-Nigeria Strikes Kill 175 Islamic State Fighters

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