Air Component OPHK Neutralises Terrorists in Precision Night Strike on ISWAP Hideout in Southern Lake Chad
By Zagazola Makama
The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has carried out a successful precision airstrike against an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) hideout in the Southern Lake Chad region, neutralising several terrorists during a late-night operation supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the mission was launched after persistent ISR tracking identified significant terrorist activity around Arenna, in Marte Local Government Area
of Borno state.
The operation, executed by the ISR platform, commenced at about 10:35 p.m. on July 23, following an intelligence report indicating the presence of about 50 motorcycles belonging to terrorists moving within the general area.
According to operational feedback, the aircraft established overhead surveillance before conducting a precision strike on a building confirmed to be serving as a terrorist hideout.
Read Also:
Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted immediately after the strike confirmed that all terrorists inside the targeted structure were neutralised, while three additional fighters outside the building were also killed.
The assessment further revealed that three other terrorists within the strike area were seen fleeing the scene, suggesting they sustained the shock of the attack and were attempting to escape.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the aircraft remained overhead after the initial strike to conduct further surveillance and, if necessary, engage fleeing terrorists with follow-up strikes.
“The operation was intelligence-driven and executed with precision. The initial assessment indicates that the objective was successfully achieved, while surveillance continued to ensure that any surviving terrorists attempting to regroup or escape could be engaged,” the officer said.
The successful strike is part of the ongoing air interdiction campaign by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI aimed at dismantling ISWAP and Boko Haram enclaves, disrupting their mobility, and denying them freedom of action across the Lake Chad theatre.