Abuja, Nigeria – US and Nigerian officials announced that the United States has deployed drones and a limited number of troops to Nigeria, as part of its support for military efforts to counter ISIS and al-Qaeda,
by providing training and intelligence support without directly engaging in combat operations.
Limited deployment and non-combat missions
Sources reported that the US military deployed several MQ-9 Reaper drones, along with approximately 200 troops,
to support the Nigeria army in its operations against terrorist groups in the north of the country.
Officials confirmed that US forces are not participating in direct combat,
but are limited to intelligence gathering and providing technical and training support.
Strengthening security cooperation
Furthermore, this deployment comes at the request of Nigeria authorities,
as part of enhanced security cooperation between the two countries,
particularly following the rise in activity by groups affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaeda in West Africa.
A U.S. defense official explained that this cooperation is based on a joint intelligence-sharing cell,
which provides field commanders with accurate and actionable data.
Return of the American presence
This move also represents a partial return of the US military presence to the region,
following a previous withdrawal from Niger in 2014 after tensions with the authorities there.
The new deployment comes amid growing concerns about the expanding influence of terrorist groups
in the Sahel and West Africa, prompting Washington to re-engage, albeit on a limited scale,
to support its regional allies, such as Nigeria, in confronting escalating security threats.
