U.S. and Nigerian forces launched additional strikes on Monday against Islamic State militants in Northeastern Nigeria, U.S. Africa Command announced Tuesday.
“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,” AFRICOM said in a statement.
It’s the third strike in five days for U.S. forces in coordination with their Nigerian counterparts, and the attacks have killed 175 of the fighters, the Nigerian military said Tuesday.
Military spokesperson Samaila Uba said in a statement that the strikes also destroyed weapons, checkpoints and financial networks of the militants across the northeastern region of the country, according to the Associated Press.
On Friday, an attack killed a senior Islamic State group leader and other top leaders of the terrorist group.
The operation targeted Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the director of global operations for ISIS along with other leaders, according to AFRICOM. Al-Minuki provided strategic guidance to the ISIS global network on media and financial operations as well as the development and manufacturing of weapons, explosives and drones, AFRICOM said. He also has a long history of planning attacks and directing hostage-taking operations, the command said.
On Sunday, the U.S. military carried out renewed strikes in coordination with the Nigerian government. AFRICOM released black-and-white overhead footage showing airstrikes targeting what appear to be several individuals riding bicycles.
Earlier this year, the U.S. dispatched around 200 troops to train Nigerian military forces battling Islamist militants.
The arrival of U.S. forces in Nigeria came after Christmas Day airstrikes ordered by Trump against Islamic extremists in the country.
The security situation in Nigeria, particularly in its northern region, has been in disarray for over a decade. Various Islamic militants, such as those linked to ISIS and others from the group Boko Haram, have long been active in that region.
Both Christians and Muslims have been targets of attacks by the extremists. The U.S. military has carried out a series strikes on Islamic State militants in Nigeria in recent days. (U.S. Africa Command)
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