The United States and Nigeria carried out new joint strikes against Islamic State militants in northeastern Nigeria over the weekend, underscoring an expanding U.S. military role in West Africa as Washington deepens security cooperation with Abuja amid worsening regional instability.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said Monday that the strikes targeted ISIS-linked fighters in Borno State on Sunday, while Nigeria's military said more than 20 militants were killed near the town of Metele, close to the borders with Niger and Chad. The operation followed the reported killing days earlier of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by Nigerian and U.S. officials as a senior Islamic State figure and the group's second-in-command globally.
