The United States United Stateshas resumed intelligence and surveillance operations in Nigeria after launching airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Sokoto State on Christmas Day.
According to flight tracking data shared by terrorism analyst Brant Philip, a Gulfstream V aircraft, often modified for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, flew over Borno State on Saturday. The flights focus on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a regional ISIS affiliate active in north-eastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin.
Philip said on X (formerly Twitter) that US operations in the Sambisa Forest resumed “after a one-day pause following the strikes in Sokoto.” Data shows that the aircraft has been conducting almost daily missions over Nigeria since November 24, departing from Ghana, a hub for US military logistics in Africa.
The operations are being conducted by Tenax Aerospace, a special mission aircraft provider working closely with the US military. A former US official stated that the missions include tracking an American pilot kidnapped in neighbouring Niger and gathering intelligence on militant groups operating in Nigeria.
Thursday’s airstrikes marked the first public action following President Donald Trump’s earlier threats of military intervention, with further strikes expected.
