BREAKING: After Launching Airstrikes on ISIS in Sokoto State, U.S. Turns Focus to Sambisa Forest with Expanded Intelligence and Surveillance Operations

In a significant escalation of military activity in Nigeria’s fight against Islamist extremist groups, the United States has shifted its operational focus from targeted airstrikes in Sokoto State to expanded intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the Sambisa Forest in Borno State. �
Daily Post +1
The developments come on the heels of U.S. military action conducted on December 26, 2025, when American forces, in coordination with Nigerian authorities, launched a series of precision airstrikes against ISIS‑linked militant camps in the dense Bauni forest area of Sokoto State. The operation was undertaken with the explicit approval of Nigeria’s federal government, which confirmed that the targeted locations were being used by foreign ISIS elements, reportedly collaborating with local extremist affiliates to plan and execute large‑scale attacks within Nigeria’s borders. �
Politics Nigeria +1
Officials revealed that the strikes were executed using 16 GPS‑guided precision munitions deployed from MQ‑9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea. Intelligence assessments indicated these camps were staging grounds for militants attempting to infiltrate Nigeria from the wider Sahel region. Nigerian authorities assured the public that no civilian casualties had been confirmed but warned of debris falling in nearby towns as a result of the engagement. �
Trust Radio
In the wake of those strikes, U.S. ISR aircraft have resumed regular surveillance flights over northeastern Nigeria, focusing on the Sambisa Forest, a sprawling and rugged expanse long known as a stronghold of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an affiliate of ISIS active in the Lake Chad Basin. �
Nigerian News Today
Flight‑tracking data shared by independent analysts show a Gulfstream V aircraft — commonly modified for intelligence and reconnaissance missions — conducting operations over Borno State, gathering real‑time information on militant movements and potential targets. According to open‑source tracking, the aircraft resumed operations shortly after a brief pause following the Sokoto airstrikes and has been active in the region since late November 2025. �
Abuja Press
Analysts say this expanded ISR focus underscores continued concern about ISWAP’s capacity to regroup and conduct attacks against both military targets and civilian populations in northeastern Nigeria. The Sambisa Forest, in particular, has long been a focal point of insurgent activity, given its dense canopy and remote terrain that provide concealment for militant fighters and logistics networks.
Nigerian officials have expressed varying views on the U.S. involvement. While some political leaders and security stakeholders welcome the additional intelligence support and precision targeting capabilities, others have raised questions about the long‑term strategy and implications of foreign military operations on Nigerian soil. Notably, lawmakers have called for even broader cooperation to extend operations to other known extremist concentrations such as the Mandara Mountains and Lake Chad regions. �
TheCable
As ISR missions continue over Sambisa, both U.S. and Nigerian authorities maintain that enhanced surveillance and intelligence gathering will be crucial to preempt future militant threats, allowing for more informed tactical decisions and coordinated action in the ongoing fight against extremist violence across Nigeria.