Airstrikes Kill Four ISWAP Terrorists, Destroy 12 Boats In Borno

Precision airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force under Operation Hadin Kai have killed four Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and destroyed 12 logistics boats around Kangarwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The strikes were carried out on Tuesday, August 25, following intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations that detected a large concentration of terrorist logistics boats along the riverbank.

A military source said about 44 boats were sighted at the location at around 12:55 p.m., prompting the initial air attack.

The source said Nigerian Air Force aircraft, identified as the “Phantoms”, targeted the boats, while another aircraft conducting armed reconnaissance remained overhead to monitor the aftermath.

The reconnaissance aircraft observed terrorists attempting to salvage and load some of the damaged boats, prompting a further precision strike on the group gathered around a larger cluster of vessels.

“Battle damage assessment showed four terrorists neutralised and 12 terrorist logistics boats destroyed,” the military source said.

The operation is part of ongoing air and ground operations aimed at disrupting terrorist movements and logistics networks across the Lake Chad Basin.

The waterways around Lake Chad are frequently exploited by terrorist groups to move personnel, weapons, food and other supplies between their operating locations.

The military said the aircraft remained in the area after the strikes to monitor further movements and provide continued surveillance.

The latest operation comes amid sustained military pressure on terrorist groups operating in Borno and neighbouring areas, with the armed forces increasingly relying on intelligence-led and precision air operations to degrade their capabilities.

The military said operations would continue to deny terrorist groups access to critical routes and logistics networks while supporting ground operations in the North-East.