Abuja / Washington D.C. — The United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over Nigeria’s north-east, days after Washington carried out precision air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Sokoto State, according to flight-tracking data and multiple counter-terrorism analysts.
Satellite monitoring and open-source flight data shared by Sahel terrorism expert Brant Philip reveal a Gulfstream V long-range aircraft — a business jet frequently modified for intelligence missions — conducting flights over Borno State and the Sambisa Forest, the stronghold of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the Nigeria-based ISIS affiliate.
Philip noted on social media platform X that U.S. ISR flights resumed on Saturday “after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto State,” highlighting a near-daily pattern of aerial reconnaissance since the mission began on 24 November 2025, with departures from Ghana — a key logistical hub for U.S. African operations.
The flights are believed to track ISWAP movements and other militant networks in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, as well as to assist in efforts to locate a U.S. pilot reportedly kidnapped in neighbouring Niger Republic earlier this month. A former U.S. official told Time Africa Magazine that the mission’s objectives encompass broader counter-terror intelligence gathering.
The increased ISR activity follows U.S. air strikes on suspected ISIS camps in northwest Nigeria, carried out on the night of 26 December 2025. President Donald Trump publicly claimed responsibility for the strikes on his social media platform, describing the operation as a response to violent attacks on predominantly Christian communities in Nigeria.
According to Nigerian authorities and defence officials, the strikes were executed between 00:12 and 01:30 local time, deploying 16 GPS-guided munitions via MQ-9 Reaper drones launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea. These precision strikes targeted locations in the Bauni Forest area of Tangaza Local Government, Sokoto State, which intelligence sources said were being used as assembly points by foreign ISIS elements attempting to infiltrate Nigeria from the Sahel.
Officials reported that debris from the strikes fell in both Sokoto and as far away as Offa in Kwara State, though no civilian casualties were recorded. Security forces quickly secured impacted areas following the operation.
Nigerian government statements emphasised the coordinated nature of the mission, noting it was conducted “with full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria” and in accordance with international law and sovereignty principles. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the collaboration reflects structured bilateral cooperation to counter persistent terrorism and violent extremism.
The resumption of ISR flights and the Sokoto strikes come amid renewed high-level engagements between U.S. and Nigerian security officials. Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, met with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington earlier in December, where discussions focused on deepening military cooperation and addressing what the Pentagon described as “persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists,” language that has drawn both support and criticism domestically and internationally.
Hegseth has publicly indicated that more operations may follow, reinforcing U.S. commitment to shared counter-terror objectives. Critics, however, caution that militarised interventions alone will not address the root causes of extremism in Nigeria and warn of potential backlash if operations are perceived as infringing on national sovereignty or targeting specific communities. Local residents in parts of Sokoto reported fear and confusion in the aftermath of the strikes, with some questioning the presence of ISIS elements in areas historically unaffected by heavy insurgent activity.
In the Nigerian political sphere, calls have emerged from figures such as former Senate Leader Ali Ndume for expanded joint operations with U.S. forces into the northeast to target Boko Haram and ISWAP more comprehensively. Critics advocate for a combination of military support, intelligence sharing, and capacity building for Nigerian security forces.
The renewed U.S. ISR presence in Nigeria underscores a broader shift in Washington’s engagement in West Africa. Since being expelled from Niger earlier this year, U.S. forces have recalibrated their approach in the region, favouring intelligence gathering and remote operations, while seeking to support partner governments in counter-terrorism efforts.
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