US Scales Back Troops in Nigeria After Joint Operation Kills Senior ISIS Leader

 AFRICOM said African governments must lead security operations while the United States provides specialized capabilities.

Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson (R) shakes hands with Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Navy Adm. Brad Cooper (L) as they conclude their testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 14, 2026. The full committee heard testimony on "The Posture of the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2027 and the Future Years Defense Program." Win 

The United States has withdrawn most of the military personnel it sent to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism operation after the mission helped kill one of the Islamic State group’s most senior global leaders.

The commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, said on July 3 that the remaining U.S. role is focused on intelligence sharing requested by the Nigerian government.

Speaking during a State Department Africa Regional Media Hub briefing from Luanda, Angola, Anderson said the approach reflects Washington’s goal of supporting African-led security operations rather than maintaining a large military presence.

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“We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing,” Anderson said.

He added that “only bringing unique U.S. capabilities” allows Nigerian forces to remain in the lead while pursuing terrorist targets.

The operation followed a joint U.S.–Nigerian military campaign in northeastern Nigeria in May that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom U.S. officials identified as the second-in-command of ISIS worldwide.