Military drone strike neutralises 15 suspected ISWAP terrorists in Borno

A Nigerian military drone strike has killed an estimated 15 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists during an intelligence-led operation in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the operation in a post shared via his X handle.

According to Makama, the airstrike was carried out at about 5:35 a.m. on Monday, July 21, after credible intelligence indicated the presence of suspected terrorists around KLA Balia in Marte LGA.

Makama, citing intelligence sources, said an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, platform, codenamed Guardian, was deployed over the area and identified three vehicles concealed at separate hideouts.

He said further surveillance revealed several structures nearby, where five suspected terrorists were observed taking cover under a tree.

Following positive identification, the drone carried out a precision strike, killing the five visible suspects and triggering secondary explosions that intelligence sources estimated resulted in the deaths of about 15 insurgents.

The security analyst added that after a battle damage assessment, the ISR platform detected the three concealed vehicles and attempted a follow-up precision strike to destroy them.

However, the second strike was unsuccessful due to a malfunction in the laser targeting system, which prevented accurate target designation.

Despite the technical setback, military sources described the operation as a significant success, saying it inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorist group and disrupted its activities in the area.

According to the sources, surveillance and intelligence monitoring of the location are ongoing, while additional operations may be conducted to target surviving terrorists and destroy the remaining vehicles.

The operation forms part of the ongoing air interdiction campaign by Operation HADIN KAI aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves, disrupting logistics and eliminating insurgent leadership across the Lake Chad region and the wider North-East.