Commander, U.S. Africa Command
Appears in 2 stories
Commander, U.S. Africa Command - Led delegation to meet Tinubu in Abuja Feb 8; oversaw initial 100 US troops arrival
On Christmas night 2025, American warplanes struck ISIS-linked camps in northwest Nigeria, killing multiple militants in the first direct U.S. combat action inside the country—now over seven weeks ago. The operation, approved by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu after months of Trump administration threats, targeted Lakurawa/ISSP elements in Sokoto State but alarmed Jabo village residents who reported civilian panic from a missile hitting farmland. By mid-February 2026, escalation deepened as U.S. Africa Command deployed around 200 military personnel, with the initial 100 troops arriving on February 17 at Bauchi Airfield to train and support Nigerian counterterrorism efforts. Nigeria's Defence Headquarters confirmed the deployment was 'planned and deliberate' following a formal Federal Government request for military training, technical support, and intelligence sharing.
Updated Feb 18
Commander, U.S. Africa Command - Assumed command August 2025
Since 2007, the United States has conducted hundreds of airstrikes and special operations raids against al-Shabaab in Somalia—more than in any other country outside of declared war zones. On February 16, 2026, Jubaland regional forces and American troops completed a four-day operation in the Badhadhe District, killing more than 60 al-Shabaab fighters and destroying militant camps, communication centers, and depots containing over 100 different types of explosives.
Updated Feb 16
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