The United States Africa Command has confirmed that American forces, working in coordination with the Government of Nigeria, carried out additional kinetic strikes against ISIS targets in Northeastern Nigeria on May 17, 2026.
In a statement, AFRICOM said intelligence assessments confirmed that the targets were ISIS militants operating within the region, adding that full battle damage assessments were still ongoing.
The command disclosed that no American or Nigerian personnel were harmed during the operation.
According to AFRICOM, the latest operation forms part of ongoing joint counterterrorism efforts aimed at degrading the operational capabilities of ISIS and preventing future attacks against the United States and allied partners.
“The removal of these terrorists diminishes the group’s capacity to plan attacks that threaten the safety and security of the U.S. and our partners,” the statement said.
AFRICOM further reaffirmed its commitment to supporting regional partners through specialized military capabilities and coordinated operations against shared security threats across Africa.
The latest strikes come amid intensified military offensives targeting extremist groups operating around the Lake Chad Basin and the wider North-East region, where Nigerian troops and allied partners have continued sustained counterterrorism operations against ISIS-linked factions and other armed groups.
