The United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over northeastern Nigeria, focusing on Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) strongholds in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State. The activity, reported on December 27, 2025, comes days after U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Sokoto State and signals sustained military engagement amid threats of further action.
Sahel-focused terrorism analyst Brandon Philip shared flight-tracking data indicating a U.S. aircraft—a Gulfstream V long-range jet modified for ISR missions—operating over Borno on December 27. "The United States resumed ISR operations today on ISWAP in the Sambisa forest, Borno state in northeast Nigeria, after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto state," Philip posted on X.
The aircraft is linked to Tenax Aerospace, a U.S. contractor providing special-mission aviation services to the military. Missions reportedly began on November 24, 2025, departing from Ghana—a key U.S. logistics hub in West Africa—and have occurred nearly daily since.
A former U.S. official described early flights as including efforts to locate an American pilot kidnapped in neighboring Niger and gather intelligence on militant groups in Nigeria.
The resumption follows U.S. Christmas Day airstrikes in Sokoto, announced by President Donald Trump as targeting IS militants "killing innocent Christians." Nigeria confirmed the coordinated operation, with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar stating it was approved by President Bola Tinubu and part of joint efforts.
The ISR activity stems from a November 2025 meeting between Nigeria's National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, where the U.S. pledged aggressive cooperation on security, particularly addressing jihadist threats.
Nigeria emphasizes the operations as collaborative, driven by shared counterterrorism goals rather than religious framing. Analysts note northwest violence involves criminal-banditry hybrids with IS links, affecting multiple communities, while northeast remains ISWAP's core area.
The developments highlight evolving U.S.-Nigeria security ties under the Trump administration, balancing sovereignty with practical support against persistent threats.
