The United States has resumed intelligence and reconnaissance operations over Nigeria’s Sambisa forest, signaling continued military engagement just days after conducting airstrikes against ISIS targets in Sokoto.
Key Points:
Surveillance flights resumed on Saturday following a one-day pause after the Sokoto strikes.
A Gulfstream V aircraft, operated by contractor Tenax Aerospace, conducted the mission over Borno State.
The operations are focused on monitoring Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) activities.
The US began daily intelligence flights over Nigeria on November 24, departing from a hub in Ghana.
The missions also aim to gather intelligence on a kidnapped American pilot in neighboring Niger.
The resumption follows a meeting between Nigeria’s NSA Nuhu Ribadu and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
US officials have promised further strikes against terrorist groups in the region.
The persistent aerial surveillance underscores a deepening, tactical US involvement in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts beyond isolated strikes.
Sources: The Cable