The Nigerian Air Force will now lead further military air operations following U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, with Washington shifting its role to intelligence and reconnaissance support.

A Nigerian official familiar with the new Nigeria–U.S. security arrangement told AFP that while the U.S. will primarily conduct reconnaissance flights, Nigeria remains open to additional U.S. strikes if necessary.

The strikes targeted sites linked to the Islamic State group, including militants collaborating with the Lakurawa jihadist group and armed gangs, or “bandits,” operating in northwest Nigeria. Both countries reported that an unspecified number of fighters were killed.

The U.S. action followed a diplomatic dispute in October, when then-President Donald Trump described violence by armed groups in Nigeria as “persecution” and “genocide” of Christians. These claims were rejected by Abuja and independent analysts.

Despite a resolution of the dispute in December, which Nigerian authorities said strengthened bilateral security cooperation, the Christmas Day strikes caused unease in Abuja after Trump unilaterally claimed credit for them. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar later described the operations as a joint effort.

Since the strikes, U.S. reconnaissance flights over Nigeria have continued, supporting Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations against jihadist and bandit groups across the northeast, northwest, and north-central regions.