ISWAP Confirms Death of Commander After U.S. Raid

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) confirmed the death of its senior commander, Abu Bilal al Mainuki, after an alleged raid by U.S. Special Forces in the Lake Chad region of northeast Nigeria.

The statement circulated by ISWAP on its media channels referred to the operation as a martyrdom and acknowledged the loss sustained during the raid, which reportedly took place two weeks ago. The operation involved precise air and ground coordination, supported by surveillance drones and attack aircraft, targeting high-value assets linked to the Islamic State network.

Sources indicated that several militants, including suspected foreign fighters, were killed during the raid, which ISWAP described as an assault on its newly established media headquarters deep within the forest. The group claimed that its media unit fought back during the raid and did not surrender, although ISWAP did not disclose casualty figures.

Intelligence sources estimated that a dozen fighters were killed, causing significant disruption to ISWAP's command and propaganda structure in the Lake Chad area.