Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Joint military operations by Nigeria and the United States have killed 175 Islamic State fighters in northeastern Nigeria, dealing what officials describe as a major blow to terrorist networks operating in the region.
The Nigerian military says coordinated airstrikes and intelligence-led operations eliminated several senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as one of the group’s most influential global operatives.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Director of Defence Information Samaila Uba says the offensive inflicted a “devastating blow” on terrorist strongholds, destroying strategic targets linked to insurgent operations.
Commander of the United States Africa Command, Dagvin Anderson, tells a Congressional hearing in Washington that Nigeria played a critical role in identifying targets and providing intelligence support.
“Nigeria has been instrumental throughout the last several months,” Anderson says.
Military officials say al-Minuki oversaw Islamic State global operations, including media propaganda, weapons manufacturing, explosives development and drone coordination.
Other senior ISWAP figures reportedly killed include Abd-al Wahhab, Abu Musa al-Mangawi and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir.
The latest offensive comes amid a surge in attacks on villages, security formations and civilians across northern Nigeria. Insurgents have intensified assaults on farmers, fishermen and military bases, killing civilians and senior military officers.
President Bola Tinubu thanks US President Donald Trump for supporting counterterrorism operations and calls for “more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.”
Despite claims by Trump that Christians face genocide in Nigeria, authorities and security experts maintain that insurgent violence affects both Christians and Muslims across the country.
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