The United States has pulled back its military personnel involved in a joint counterterrorism initiative in Nigeria but continues to provide intelligence support and assistance to enhance the nation’s security efforts against the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh).
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, made this announcement during a press briefing following the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026 on Thursday.
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Anderson noted that the operation in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin had a substantial impact on disrupting ISIS activities, benefiting not only regional nations but also enhancing global security.
He clarified that while the mission has concluded and the majority of US troops assigned to it have departed Nigeria, the collaboration between the two nations continues, driven by intelligence-sharing at the request of the Nigerian government.
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“This operation in the Lake Chad Basin not only aided nearby countries but also had a positive effect on global efforts by disrupting the ISIS network,” Anderson explained.
“Although we’ve withdrawn most of our forces associated with that operation, we are maintaining the partnership that Nigeria has sought, focusing on intelligence sharing and the necessary understanding to tackle these challenging tasks.”
The US military leader characterized Nigeria as a capable security ally with a robust military, highlighting the significant progress made through collaboration in the fight against ISIS.
He also pointed out that intelligence from the US, combined with Nigerian military efforts, played a vital role in neutralizing the second-in-command of the global ISIS network, demonstrating the effectiveness of their ongoing security cooperation despite the troop withdrawal.
