WASHINGTON — The United States has withdrawn its combat forces from Nigeria following the completion of a joint counterterrorism mission that targeted Islamic State-linked militants, marking the end of the operation’s combat phase while leaving a smaller advisory presence in place.
The withdrawal follows months of cooperation between U.S. and Nigerian forces against Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other extremist groups operating across northern Nigeria.
As Task & Purpose reports:
Gen. Dagvin Anderson, head of U.S. Africa Command, confirmed the drawdown of “much of our forces that were just there for that operation.” Speaking at the 2026 African Chiefs of Defense Conference, Anderson said that the campaign around the Lake Chad Basin in the spring “not only helped the countries in that immediate region; it also helped countries globally as that disrupted the ISIS network.”
As a result, he added, “ISIS’s leadership has been significantly degraded there.”
An AFRICOM spokesperson told Task & Purpose that the U.S.-Nigeria partnership “is ongoing and remains strong, focused on disrupting and eliminating shared security threats. At the invitation of the government, we continue to have forces in Nigeria. The number of personnel will fluctuate as required to meet requirements.”
The United States has more than 100 service members in Nigeria for a training and advising mission, but deployed additional combat forces — including special operations personnel — this spring specifically for the operations in the Lake Chad region, Nigeria’s defense minister told Agence France-Presse.
Joint Operation Targeted ISIS Leadership
The military campaign began with U.S. airstrikes in late 2025 before expanding into a broader joint offensive with Nigerian forces this year. American and Nigerian troops conducted intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds and eliminating senior militant leaders.
In May, President Donald Trump announced that a joint operation had killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’ second-in-command globally. Trump called the mission a major blow to the terrorist organization’s international operations and praised Nigeria’s cooperation.
Advisory Mission Continues
Although U.S. combat troops have departed, defense officials have indicated that military cooperation with Nigeria will continue through intelligence sharing, training and technical assistance.
Earlier this year, Nigerian officials emphasized that approximately 200 U.S. personnel deployed to the country were serving in advisory and training roles rather than conducting independent combat operations. Nigerian authorities also stressed that their military retained operational control throughout the partnership.
The United States has increasingly relied on this model across Africa, providing specialized support while allowing partner nations to lead counterterrorism operations on the ground.
Security Challenges Remain
Despite recent battlefield gains, Nigeria continues to face persistent threats from Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other armed groups that have destabilized parts of the country’s northeast and northwest for more than a decade. The insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of civilians.
Security analysts say the withdrawal of American combat forces does not signal the end of U.S. involvement in the region. Instead, it reflects a shift toward supporting Nigerian-led operations through intelligence, training, and logistical assistance while reducing the direct American military footprint.
READ NEXT: 1619 Project Founder, New York Times Journalist Says America’s Existence Is A Crime
