The United States has restarted high-level intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in the North-East Nigeria following recent precision airstrikes on suspected Islamic State-linked terror cells in Sokoto State.
Sahel-based terrorism analyst, Brant Philip, confirmed the development after sharing verified flight-tracking data on X (formerly Twitter), which showed a U.S. surveillance aircraft operating in Borno State. The aircraft, identified as a modified Gulfstream V, is typically deployed for long-range missions involving strategic intelligence gathering and aerial monitoring.
According to Philip, the renewed surveillance is focused on tracking the activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), particularly within the North-East region and the Lake Chad Basin axis where the group remains active.
He revealed that ISR patrols, which briefly paused following the Sokoto strikes, have now resumed over key hotspots including the Sambisa Forest, a stronghold of insurgent operations.
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The renewed U.S. activity underscores heightened counterterrorism coordination and ongoing efforts to disrupt extremist networks threatening regional security.
Further updates are expected as joint security monitoring intensifies in the coming days.
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