The United States has officially deployed military personnel to Nigeria to support the ongoing fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), marking the first public acknowledgment of U.S. forces operating on Nigerian soil. This move follows a series of American airstrikes conducted in December 2025 targeting ISIS strongholds in the region.
According to U.S. officials, the deployment aims to strengthen intelligence sharing, provide strategic support to Nigerian forces, and assist in operations to dismantle the insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced countless civilians in northeastern Nigeria.
The U.S. military has emphasized that its troops will primarily operate in advisory and logistical roles rather than engage in direct combat.
Nigerian authorities welcomed the announcement, highlighting the need for international collaboration to combat terrorism.
“This partnership is vital for restoring peace and security to communities that have long suffered under extremist attacks,” said a senior official from Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence.
The insurgency, largely led by factions of ISIS in West Africa, has escalated in recent months, targeting villages, towns, and transport routes, creating a humanitarian crisis in the region.
The U.S. deployment is expected to complement ongoing Nigerian military efforts and contribute to regional stability.
Human rights organizations have urged that any military action be carefully coordinated to avoid civilian casualties, pointing to previous airstrikes in 2025 that resulted in unintended losses. Both governments have assured that safeguards and monitoring systems are in place.
This development comes amid heightened global concern over extremist activities in Africa, and signals a more proactive U.S. role in supporting regional allies in counterterrorism efforts.
Analysts say the deployment could serve as a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against ISIS, offering both tactical advantages on the ground and a morale boost for local security forces. View_more...
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