sambisa forest.webp
The Digest:

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