The United States has withdrawn the majority of its troops deployed to Nigeria for a targeted operation against Daesh fighters in the country's northeast, the American military confirmed. The operation, conducted in May in the Lake Chad region, resulted in the deaths of nearly 200 Daesh militants, including the group's global second-in-command.
Withdrawal Details
General Dagvin Anderson of US Africa Command announced the withdrawal during a media briefing in Luanda, Angola, on Thursday. “We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation,” he said. However, he emphasized that the partnership with Nigeria continues, particularly in intelligence sharing and understanding necessary to prosecute difficult tasks.
Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa, in an interview with AFP on Thursday, confirmed that US combat troops had been deployed specifically for the May operation. This group was distinct from the approximately 200 non-combat troops deployed earlier in the year for broader training and technical assistance. “They came in, did that, did their work, and took off,” Musa stated.
Ongoing Presence and Fluctuating Numbers
It remains unclear whether some troops from the broader training mission have also been withdrawn, and if so, how many remain. An Africom spokeswoman told AFP, “We continue to have forces in Nigeria. The number of personnel will fluctuate as required to meet requirements.”
General Anderson noted that following the May operation, the Nigerian military has been highly active. “They continue to prosecute targets themselves,” he said, leading to more defections or surrenders of Daesh followers in the northeastern region. “So that’s a combined effort that continues to build,” he added.
Background of Insurgency
Northeast Nigeria has been plagued by an Islamist extremist insurgency since 2009, initially led by Boko Haram and later by its offshoot, the Daesh West Africa Province (Daesh-WAP). Since last year, both groups have intensified attacks on villages, police stations, loggers, fishermen, and military bases, killing several senior army officers.
The escalation prompted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a nationwide state of emergency in 2025, and US President Donald Trump threatened military intervention. The recent US operation and subsequent withdrawal mark a significant phase in the ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the region.
