US says it has increased the number of its airstrikes against Islamic State (IS)

• The US has increased the number of airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) in Nigeria.
• Over the course of the operation in the region of Chad, according to DW, the US carried out at least 200 IS airstrikes, sources said, citing Abu-Bakr al-Munqiri.
• The US says that the operation was carried out against Islamic State in Nigeria, and that the airstrikes were aimed at weakening the group’s forces.

According to the report, the US increased the number of airstrikes in Nigeria that targeted Islamic State (IS) fighters. The DW report says the increase in airstrikes was due to the briefing of the US by the BBC.

DW reports that the US carried out the operation against Islamic State fighters in the Chad region. According to the material, citing DW, during the operation the US carried out at least 200 airstrikes against IS, and also named Abu-Bakr al-Munqiri, who, according to the report, is responsible for the group’s attacks.

In an interview with DW, an American official from US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said that the US “was watching for the right time to strike,” which allowed it to carry out the operation. The official also said that the US would continue to cooperate with Nigeria.

According to BBC information, on Thursday the US announced that the operation was successful. The BBC says that, according to the Nigerian side, the country’s forces were also involved in the operation against the group, and that the operation was carried out in coordination with the US.

DW also reports that the Islamic State group in Africa had previously been targeted by the US, and that the group’s leader, Abu-Bakr al-Munqiri, was responsible for the attacks. BBC adds that the US had a plan to strike close to 200 targets in Nigeria, and that the purpose of the operation was to weaken the group’s capabilities.

In materials from DW and BBC, it is stated that Nigeria has been battling Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) since 2009, when Boko Haram began its insurgency. BBC also reports that the US had a plan to strike close to 200 military targets in Nigeria, with the aim of weakening the group’s ability to carry out attacks.

Tags: USA/Middle East/Politics