Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(REUTERS)U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced new airstrikes against the Islamic State in northeastern Nigeria on Sunday, conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government. These strikes followed a joint operation where U.S. and Nigerian forces killed Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, a high-ranking leader of the ISIS group in Nigeria. Al-Mainuki, a key commander in the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," was central to the group's media, finances, and weapons development. The Nigerian government credited U.S. intelligence and cooperation as vital to the operation, signaling a new phase in military collaboration after previous strained relations. Analysts view this increased American-Nigerian cooperation as a significant development, demonstrating a stronger joint effort against violent extremist groups in the Lake Chad region. In fullUnited States launches fresh airstrikes against Islamic State in northeast NigeriaThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

The Nigerian president called the strike a 'significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism'.

President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of a senior Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, during a joint military operation conducted by Nigerian and United States…