By Muhammad Mamman
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has killed more than 10 fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during coordinated air strikes across parts of the country’s north-east.
According to military sources, the strikes were carried out on Tuesday by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai, Nigeria’s main counterinsurgency campaign in the region. The operation targeted suspected ISWAP positions in Borno and Yobe states, including the volatile Timbuktu Triangle area.
The military said the attacks followed the analysis of real-time intelligence gathered through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which identified clusters of fighters and logistics hubs believed to be used by the armed group.
Officials described the strikes as “precision operations” aimed at degrading ISWAP’s operational capacity and disrupting its movements in the region, where the group has continued to stage attacks despite years of military pressure.
The Nigerian armed forces have stepped up aerial surveillance and targeted strikes in recent months as part of efforts to curb the activities of ISWAP and rival armed group Boko Haram, whose insurgency has affected millions of people in the Lake Chad basin for more than a decade.
Independent verification of casualty figures in remote conflict zones such as the Timbuktu Triangle remains difficult, and ISWAP has not commented on the latest claims.
The military says operations under Operation Hadin Kai will continue as it seeks to restore security and prevent further attacks on civilians and military targets in north-east Nigeria.
