Military personnel in Nigeria engaged in counter-terrorism operations against jihadist groups.
The United States is preparing to deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to expand its support for the country’s fight against jihadist groups, marking a deeper military engagement in West Africa. The personnel will provide training and technical assistance to Nigerian forces across multiple locations, while staying out of direct combat. The troops will join a small contingent of soldiers already in Nigeria. The development follows deadly airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day against suspected Islamist militants. President Trump has framed the intervention partly as a response to what he terms “Christian genocide,” which Nigeria’s government rejects. With US surveillance flights already underway and extremist threats persisting, the growing US role signals a more assertive security partnership aimed at curbing Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates.
RFI