AFRICOM releases video of strikes that killed over 20 ISIS fighters in Nigeria

The United States Africa Command has released footage of the air strikes against Islamic State militants carried out in North-East Nigeria on Saturday.

The command confirmed the operation in a statement on its website on Monday.

AFRICOM said the strikes were conducted on May 17 in coordination with the Nigerian government, with intelligence confirming that the targets were ISIS militants.

“On May 17, 2026, U.S. Africa Command, in coordination with the Government of Nigeria, conducted additional kinetic strikes against ISIS in Northeastern Nigeria. Intelligence confirmed the targets were ISIS militants.

“Complete assessments are ongoing. No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed,” the statement read.

The command said the operation would weaken ISIS’s ability to plan attacks against the United States and its allies.

“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,” it added.

Earlier, the Defence Headquarters said the strikes, carried out in the general area of Metele, resulted in the killing of more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters following intelligence on the convergence of terrorist elements in the region.

The latest operations follow the killing of ISIS kingpin Al-Minuki during a previous joint Nigeria-US counterterrorism operation confirmed by both President Bola Tinubu and US President Donald Trump.

Trump described the slain militant as the most active terrorist in the world and the second-in-command of ISIS globally.

Watch the video here:

𝗔𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗢𝗠 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 20 𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗦 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮

Credit: X | USAfricaCommand
—
Follow us for more breaking news and videos pic.twitter.com/l3XJ6CJ83v

— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) May 18, 2026

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PidomNigeria.

Contact: [email protected]