Joint Nigeria-US airstrikes kill 175 Islamic State fighters

A series of high-intensity, coordinated air and ground offensives carried out by Nigerian troops alongside US forces has killed 175 Islamic State (IS) fighters, including senior commanders, in northeastern Nigeria, the Nigerian military announced on Tuesday.

The weekend operation represents one of the most significant blows to the terrorist group's regional and global leadership structure in recent years. It was conducted under a newly established counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing partnership between Abuja and Washington aimed at dismantling extremist networks in West Africa.

According to military spokesman Samaila Uba, the operation successfully neutralized several high-profile targets, most notably Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the global second-in-command for Islamic State.

Al-Minuki reportedly spearheaded IS's external operations, managing international terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics, and the planning of major attacks targeting civilians.

"His elimination is expected to severely disrupt the terrorist group's command structure, operational coordination, and external attack networks," Uba said in a statement. 

Beyond the loss of personnel, the joint strikes successfully dismantled the operational scaffolding that has sustained insurgent activities in the region. 

The military confirmed the destruction of multiple strategic checkpoints, major weapons caches and logistics hubs, crucial military equipment and sophisticated financial networks.

The operation also claimed the lives of Abd-al Wahhab, a senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) responsible for propaganda and attack coordination; Abu Musa al-Mangawi; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a top media production operative.

Uba emphasized that these successes underscore the enhanced capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces when paired with international intelligence. He affirmed that joint operations with US forces will continue indefinitely until all terrorist networks threatening national and regional security are entirely dismantled.