rki.news | Xinhua
ABUJA, May 18 — At least 20 fighters of the Islamic State (IS) were killed in a joint operation by Nigerian and United States forces in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State, the Nigerian military said on Monday.
Military spokesperson Samaila Uba said the operation was conducted in the Metele area as part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts against extremist groups.
He said the strikes followed the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as IS’s global second-in-command.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out under a newly established counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing framework between Nigeria and the United States aimed at dismantling militant networks.
The military said surveillance detected movements and gatherings of suspected militants before the strikes were launched to weaken terrorist capabilities and deny safe havens.
The United States Africa Command confirmed US forces, in coordination with the Nigerian government, conducted additional strikes against IS militants in northeastern Nigeria.
It said intelligence verified the targets as IS fighters and confirmed that no Nigerian or US personnel were killed or injured, while assessments were ongoing.
The cooperation marks expanded security coordination between Abuja and Washington amid rising concerns over extremist activity in the Lake Chad Basin.