US withdraws most forces from Nigeria counterterrorism operation, maintains intelligence partnership

General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, stated that the specific military operation concluded, but Washington remains committed to supporting Nigeria through intelligence collaboration at the Nigerian government's request. Anderson highlighted that this operation disrupted the ISIS network and that the partnership with Nigeria, a capable country with a strong military, has yielded significant results. He cited a successful operation against the second-in-command of the ISIS global network, attributing it to US intelligence support combined with Nigerian military efforts.

This success, he noted, demonstrates the value of intelligence cooperation over long-term foreign military deployments. Anderson also advocated for stronger intelligence sharing among African countries to combat terrorism, illicit trafficking, and other transnational crimes, citing a recent interception of a 31-ton cocaine shipment as an example of effective communication and partnerships. The US had deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance, and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin, following Nigeria's redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern by then-US President Donald Tr