Joint Nigeria-US airstrikes kill 175 Islamic State fighters
2026-05-21 10:15:03 source：CGTN
May 21, 2026
A series of high-intensity, coordinated air and ground offensives carried out by Nigerian troops alongside US forces has killed 175 Islamic State (IS) fighters, including senior commanders, in northeastern Nigeria, the Nigerian military announced on Tuesday.
The weekend operation represents one of the most significant blows to the terrorist group's regional and global leadership structure in recent years. It was conducted under a newly established counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing partnership between Abuja and Washington aimed at dismantling extremist networks in West Africa.
According to military spokesman Samaila Uba, the operation successfully neutralized several high-profile targets, most notably Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the global second-in-command for Islamic State.
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