Arise News reports that the United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) flights over Nigeria’s North-East, with a specific focus on monitoring militant activities in the Sambisa Forest. This decision follows recent airstrikes conducted against Islamic State militants in Sokoto State.
The information was disclosed on Saturday by Brant Philip, a terrorism analyst based in the Sahel, who provided flight-tracking data showing that a US surveillance aircraft was operating in Borno State.
The aircraft in question is identified as a Gulfstream V jet, which is commonly modified by the US military and its allies for advanced ISR missions.
Philip noted on X, “The US has restarted ISR operations today over ISWAP in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State in northeast Nigeria, after a brief pause following the strikes in Sokoto State.” He stated that these renewed flights primarily aim to monitor the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group affiliated with ISIS that operates in Nigeria’s North-East and the broader Lake Chad area.
Open-source intelligence analysts observing the flight logs indicated that the surveillance mission launched on November 24, with the aircraft departing from Ghana, a strategic logistical hub for US military efforts in West Africa.
This jet, reportedly operated by Tenax Aerospace—a US special-mission aviation firm that supports American defense activities—has been conducting flights over Nigerian territory almost daily since the operation began.
Sources in security revealed that the flights have multiple objectives, including tracking extremist networks and aiding efforts to locate a US pilot thought to have been abducted in Niger Republic.
These renewed aerial operations coincide with discussions that Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington. These talks come amid increasing diplomatic tensions following President Donald Trump’s warnings of potential military action in Nigeria.
After their meeting, Hegseth indicated that the US Department of Defense would collaborate closely with Nigeria to address what he termed the “persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”
The airstrikes in North-West Nigeria that targeted ISIS-related fighters were earlier described by President Trump as the “first fulfillment” of that commitment.
He cautioned that “more strikes would follow” in a message shared the same night.
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