US withdraws troops from Nigeria after ISIS operation

In May, joint US and Nigerian forces conducted operations in northeastern Nigeria that resulted in the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the global second-in-command of ISIS. This operation followed a Christmas Day strike ordered by President Donald Trump targeting the militants who were reportedly attacking Christians in the country.

Speaking at a conference of African defense chiefs in Angola, General Anderson highlighted the May operation as a template for future security partnerships in Africa. He explained that while most of the specialized forces deployed for the operation have been withdrawn, the US remains committed to supporting Nigeria through intelligence sharing.

Anderson emphasized that the operation in Nigeria's Lake Chad Basin region exemplifies Washington's strategy of providing specialized capabilities while empowering African partners to lead security initiatives. He stated that the cooperation has significantly weakened the leadership and operational capacity of Islamic State, with impacts extending beyond West Africa due to the group's international network.

He further noted that Nigerian military actions, coupled with publicizing the operation, have led to increased surrenders and defections among ISIS fighters in northeastern Nigeria. The conference in Luanda was attended by military leaders from 35 African nations, along with representatives from the US and Brazil.