U.S. Spy Planes Return to Skies Over Sambisa Forest as Trump Escalates War on ISIS in Nigeria

By Emmanuel Kwada 

In a dramatic escalation of American involvement in Nigeria’s long-running battle against Islamist insurgency, the United States has resumed high-altitude surveillance flights over the notorious Sambisa Forest in Borno State, just days after launching precision airstrikes on Islamic State-linked camps in Sokoto State.

The renewed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations signal Washington’s deepening commitment to counterterrorism efforts in West Africa, amid President Donald Trump’s vocal warnings about militant attacks on Christian communities.

Sahel-focused terrorism analyst Brant Philip broke the news on Saturday, posting flight-tracking data on X (formerly Twitter) that revealed a U.S.-operated Gulfstream V jet – a long-range aircraft frequently modified for special missions – circling over northeastern Nigeria.

“The United States resumed ISR operations today on ISWAP in the Sambisa forest, Borno State in northeast Nigeria, after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto State,” Philip stated.

He emphasized that the flights were targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a deadly ISIS affiliate dominant in the Lake Chad basin and known for its brutal control over remote territories.

The Sambisa Forest, a vast and impenetrable woodland spanning thousands of square kilometers, has long served as a stronghold for insurgent groups, including remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP factions.

Flight data reviewed by open-source intelligence experts shows these U.S. missions began on November 24, with aircraft departing from Ghana – a key logistics hub for American forces in West Africa.

The jets, operated by Tenax Aerospace (a contractor closely tied to U.S. military operations), have conducted near-daily sorties over Nigeria since then.

Sources close to the operations indicate the flights have dual objectives: gathering real-time intelligence on militant movements and assisting in the search for an American pilot reportedly kidnapped in neighboring Niger Republic.

This surge in aerial activity follows Thursday night’s U.S.-backed airstrikes in Sokoto State’s Bauni forest, where precision munitions – including GPS-guided strikes from MQ-9 Reaper drones – destroyed two ISIS-affiliated camps. Nigerian authorities confirmed the attacks targeted foreign fighters infiltrating from the Sahel, preventing planned large-scale assaults. No civilian casualties were reported, though debris impacted nearby communities.

President Trump hailed the Sokoto operation as the “first fulfillment” of his administration’s pledge to confront jihadist threats head-on, warning that “more strikes would follow” if violence persists.

The developments trace back to high-level diplomacy last month, when Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington. Hegseth vowed to work “aggressively” with Abuja to halt what the Trump administration has described as the persecution of Christians by extremist groups.

While the U.S. frames its intervention around protecting vulnerable communities and degrading ISIS networks, analysts note the complex realities on the ground: violence in Nigeria’s northwest and northeast often blends religious extremism with banditry, ethnic clashes, and resource disputes, affecting Muslims and Christians alike.

Nigerian officials have welcomed the cooperation, stressing joint efforts to secure borders and dismantle terror enclaves. As U.S. aircraft continue to shadow ISWAP hideouts, residents in the northeast express cautious hope – but also concern over potential escalation.

With Sambisa once again under the watchful eye of American spy planes, the stage appears set for further action in Washington’s evolving partnership with Nigeria against a resilient jihadist threat.