Nigeria Reports More Than 20 ISIS Fighters Killed in Second Metele Strike
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters both announced the May 17 strikes.
AFRICA — U.S. and Nigerian forces widened a coordinated air campaign against the Islamic State in northern Borno State on May 17, hitting ISIS and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Metele the day after the operation that killed the group’s most senior Lake Chad Basin commander.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters both announced the May 17 strikes. Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters put the toll at more than 20 ISIS and ISWAP fighters.
AFRICOM said in a statement, “intelligence confirmed the targets were ISIS militants” and that “complete assessments are ongoing,” and gave no casualty figure. No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed, according to both commands.
The strikes on May 17 followed the May 16 U.S.-Nigeria air-land operation at Metele that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, named in U.S. and Nigerian releases as the most senior ISWAP commander in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel.
Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters said the new strikes “follow the neutralisation of ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.”
May 17 Strikes Near Metele
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