US withdraws most troops from Nigeria after joint ISIS operation

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The United States has pulled most of its military personnel out of Nigeria following a recent joint operation against ISIS in the country's northeast, the head of U.S. Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, said. The general added that Washington continues to provide intelligence support at Abuja's request. U.S. and Nigerian forces killed Abu Bilal al-Minuwi during coordinated operations in northeastern Nigeria in May, with both governments identifying him as the group's global second-in-command. The operation followed a militant attack on Christians ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump on Christmas Day. Speaking at the Africa Defense Chiefs Conference in Luanda, Angola, Anderson said the joint missions could serve as a model for future African security cooperation. He described the operation in Nigeria's Lake Chad Basin region as an approach in which African partners lead security missions while the U.S. contributes specialized capabilities. Anderson said cooperation with Nigeria had weakened ISIS's command structure, with effects extending beyond West Africa because of the group's international network. The three-day conference brought together military leaders from 35 African countries, along with representatives from the United States and Brazil.