The U.S. has struck ISIS militants in Nigeria again – video

The U.S. Air Force, in conjunction with Nigerian government forces, carried out a successful air operation, delivering a series of precision strikes against positions held by militants of the ISIS terrorist group. U.S. military intelligence had verified the selected targets in the northeast of the country in advance, allowing the units to avoid any casualties among U.S. or Nigerian military personnel. 

This was stated in a press release published on Monday, May 18, by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

#AFRICOM, in continued coordination with Nigeria, conducted kinetic strikes against ISIS fighters in NE Nigeria on May 17. No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.

Full press release: https://t.co/7xuos8L1MK#AFRICOM #Nigeria #CounterTerrorism pic.twitter.com/qK8pyky7od

— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) May 18, 2026

The command emphasized that the physical elimination of radical Islamists significantly undermines the group’s ability to plan new armed attacks that pose a direct threat to the national security of the United States and its key regional partners.

According to information from the Nigerian Ministry of Defense, which appeared in the media, these airstrikes successfully eliminated more than two dozen militants, weakening the extremists’ positions in this unstable African region.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a large-scale operation in northwestern Nigeria, during which the U.S. Air Force carried out a series of strikes on ISIS positions. According to him, the group is responsible for the mass killings of the country’s Christian population.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hagset, commenting on the airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria, stated that this is not the end and that further actions are expected.