The United States has carried out airstrikes against Islamic State–linked militants operating in northwest Nigeria, acting in coordination with Nigerian security forces, according to officials from both governments. The strikes targeted armed groups active in parts of Sokoto state, a region that has experienced escalating violence and instability.

U.S. officials said the operation was designed to disrupt extremist networks responsible for attacks on civilians and Nigerian military personnel. The militants targeted are believed to be aligned with the Islamic State but are separate from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province factions that have long operated in northeastern Nigeria.

Nigerian authorities confirmed that the strikes were conducted as part of ongoing joint counterterrorism cooperation with international partners. They said the operation focused on degrading the operational capacity of armed groups that have taken advantage of weak security presence, rugged terrain, and cross-border movement to expand their influence in the northwest.

Security analysts note that northwest Nigeria has become an increasingly active front for militant and criminal groups in recent years, with banditry, kidnappings, and extremist activity overlapping in some areas. The expansion of IS-linked groups into the region has raised concerns among Nigerian officials and Western governments about the potential for further destabilization.

The strikes underscore Washington’s broader efforts to counter Islamic State–affiliated groups beyond their traditional strongholds and reflect growing U.S. concern over the spread of extremist activity across West Africa.

Sources: AP News, CNN, Reuters, Al Jazeera