Tag: Air strikes

Air strikes by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets killed several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram areas of Borno State.

Strikes also destroyed bandit enclaves in Kwara and Katsina States.

NAF’s spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who revealed this in a statement on Monday, stated that the strikes were conducted on Sunday, November 10.

According to the statement, NAF strikes, guided by real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) feeds, dealt a heavy blow to ISWAP terrorists entrenched in the Northern Tumbuns.

It said, “Air assets conducted precision strikes southeast of Shuwaram before shifting to Mallam Fatori, where ISWAP elements were observed mobilising with motorcycles and boats along the Lake Chad Basin.

“The strikes destroyed insurgent hideouts, logistics hubs, and weapons storage facilities, eliminating several terrorists and crippling their mobility capabilities. Post-strike assessments confirmed multiple neutralisations and a significant degradation of ISWAP’s operational networks in the area.”

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The statement stated that while airstrikes against ISWAP were ongoing in the North East, NAF aircraft carried out precision air interdiction missions over Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State, striking bandit camps with “devastating accuracy.”

According to the statement, the attacks based on credible intelligence caused panic and inflicted heavy losses among the criminals.

In a similar operation, air assets under Operation FANSAN YAMMA struck Zango Hill, which habours a terrorist kingpin and his fighters, in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, destroying their logistics hubs and neutralising several of the terrorists, described by the Nigerian Air Force as one of the most decisive strikes against bandits in the North West in recent times.

The statement noted that, in a bid to demonstrate sustained reach and precision, the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, under Sector 1, conducted an Armed Reconnaissance mission across the North West corridor, covering key settlements in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna States, including Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello, which were locations known to serve as routes and hideouts for armed groups along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis.

“During the mission, coordination with Forward Operating Bases at Dankolo and Kotonkoro revealed suspicious movement near Wam Hill, where terrorists on motorcycles were spotted attempting to flee.

“The aircrew swiftly engaged and neutralised the targets, with no further hostile activity observed,” it said.

The Nigerian Air Force attributed the success of the precision operations across Borno, Kwara, Katsina, and the entire North West, to the renewed tempo following the directives of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.

“Each mission reaffirms NAF’s resolve to project smarter and intelligence driven airpower to project purposeful lethality against insurgents and criminals while protecting the lives and properties of citizens towards enhancing national security,” the statement said.

• Closes diplomatic missions worldwide

At least 78 people have been killed in the province of Tehran alone during a large-scale Israeli attack on Iranian territory, according to media reports yesterday.

Several Iranian media outlets reported that 329 people were injured in the province.

There were no official figures on casualties.

The targets of the Israeli attacks in Tehran overnight were primarily military facilities as well as high-ranking officers, some in densely populated districts of the metropolis.

According to state media, the headquarters of the armed forces and other military facilities in the west of the city were attacked in addition to the generals’ homes in affluent neighbourhoods.

At least 18 different locations in the capital were hit, media reported.

Elsewhere in Iran, the main targets of attacks were cities in the west, including Ghom, Kermanshah and Tabriz.

World reacts to Israel strike on Iran

World leaders urged restraint on Friday after Israel pounded Iran, striking 100 targets including nuclear and military sites, and killing senior figures, including nuclear scientists and the armed forces chief of staff.

Here is a roundup of key reactions:

United States: Cannot have nuclear bomb

US President Donald Trump told Fox News he was aware Israel was going to conduct strikes on Iran before it happened and said: “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see.”

Fox News also reported that “Trump noted the US is ready to defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates.”

UN: Maximum restraint

UN chief Antonio Guterres asked “both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford,” according to a spokesperson.

Guterres was “particularly concerned” by Israel’s strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations.

China: Deeply worried

“The Chinese side… is deeply worried about the severe consequences that such actions might bring,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, calling “on relevant parties to take actions that promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions”.

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Czech Republic: Reasonable reaction

Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Iran “is supporting so many players, including the Hezbollah and Hamas movements, with the intention to destroy the state of Israel, and also seeking a nuclear bomb”, that “I see that this was a reasonable reaction from the state of Israel towards a possible threat of a nuclear bomb”.

France: Avoid any escalation

“We call on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation that could undermine regional stability,” France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.

Hamas: Dangerous escalation

“This aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilise the region,” said the Iran-backed, Palestinian militant group, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.

Jordan:  No ‘battleground’

“Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict,” a government spokesperson told AFP after Jordan closed its airspace.

Oman: Dangerous approach

Nuclear talks mediator Oman said “calls on the international community to adopt a clear and firm position to put an end to this dangerous approach, which threatens to rule out diplomatic solutions and jeopardise the security and stability of the region”.

Qatar: Strong condemnation

Gaza mediator Qatar expressed “its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack,” the Gulf state’s foreign ministry said, adding that the “dangerous escalation threatens security and stability of the region and hinders efforts to de-escalate and reach diplomatic solutions”.

Turkey: Aggressive actions

“Israel must put an immediate end to its aggressive actions that could lead to further conflicts,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

UK: Reduce tensions urgently

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: “The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region.”

Yemen’s Huthi rebels: Legitimate right to defend itself

Tehran-backed Huthi rebels said on Telegram they backed “Iran’s full and legitimate right to… develop its nuclear programme” and that “we strongly condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and affirm its full and legitimate right to respond by all possible means”.

Israel closes diplomatic missions worldwide

Israel has temporarily closed all of its diplomatic missions worldwide as its military operation in Iran continues, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

As a result, consular services would not be available to Israeli citizens currently abroad, the ministry said.

It urged Israelis overseas to complete an online form updating their location and situation and advised those in need of urgent assistance to contact the ministry’s situation room directly.

The statement also warned Israelis abroad to avoid displaying national symbols in public, refrain from posting identifiable information or travel plans on social media and avoid attending large-scale events linked to Israel.

Earlier on Friday, Israel launched a large-scale strike on dozens of military targets in Iran, including nuclear facilities.

The attacks killed several senior Iranian military commanders, including Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander, Hossein Salami, according to Iranian media.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, vowed retaliation, warning that Israel had prepared a bitter fate for itself.”

Air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft have destroyed terrorists’ logistics storage in Palele near Shiroro in Niger state.

The air strikes were initiated on March 15 after “credible intelligence” indicating the presence of terrorists’ weapons cache east of Palele, NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshall Edward Gabkwet, said in a statement on Tuesday, March 19.

Gabkwet said: “Authorization was obtained to deploy air assets to neutralize the threat.

Read Also: Several ‘terrorists’ killed in air strikes on kingpins’ enclaves

“The operation, which was executed with speed and precision, resulted in significant damage to the target area, including a secondary explosion confirming the destruction of arms and ammunition. 

“The weapons are believed to be affiliated to a particular terrorist’s kingpin who is on the Most Wanted Lists of terrorists.”

Gabkwet said the strikes had degraded the “capabilities of terrorist elements operating in the region to attack innocent civilians, especially in Kaduna and Niger States.”

He said the NAF and the ground forces would continue to maintain dominance over “areas of concern through enhanced situational awareness, continuous patrols, and targeted interdiction of terrorists’ safe havens.”

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has visited the families and victims of recent accidental air strikes in Nasarawa state.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft accidentally bombed civilians during operations near Rukubi in Doma local government area on January 24.

A statement by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshall, Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday, January 28, said Air Marshal Abubakar expressed regret over the incident.

According to the statement, the CAS said the unfortunate incident was not deliberate but had targeted suspected terrorists and cattle rustlers given the heightened level of insecurity in the area at the time. 

The statement said: “He went on to state that the primary responsibility of the NAF remains safeguarding the lives and properties of all Nigerians and would therefore not deliberately engage in acts that put the lives of Nigerians at risk.”

It said the CAS visit reflects NAF’s commitment to conflict resolution and reconciliation and is a step towards addressing grievances, fostering understanding as well as rebuilding trust between the NAF and the civilian population. 

The statement said the Air chief also visited the Governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule where he solicited his support in interfacing with the representatives of the victims, which he said would assist in answering some important questions, promote accountability, and transparency and allow the NAF to learn valuable lessons to mitigate similar incidences, going forward. 

According to the statement, the need for accountability and transparency signals NAF’s commitment to taking responsibility as well as underscores NAF’s humanitarian concerns for civilians negatively affected by ongoing air operations. 

He stated: “Our efforts to mitigate civilian casualties as well as take responsibility in the event of accidental strikes are not just a reflection of our values as a Service, but also strategically imperative to our operations.”

Air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have killed terrorist and kidnappers’ kingpin, popularly known as Janari, and several of his cohorts in Kaduna. 

Janari and his cohorts were killed on Thursday, January 18, at a location near Gadar Katako in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

NAF’s spokesperson, Air Vice Marshall, Edward Gabkwet, said this in a statement on Sunday, January 21.

According Gabkwet, Janari and his cohorts have been responsible for several attacks and abductions within Kaduna State and along Abuja-Kaduna highway. 

Read Also: Air strikes kill 12 terrorists, destroy storage base in Borno 

He said the air strikes were authourized after Janari and his gang were sighted at a location near Gadar Katako in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Gabkwet said further exploitation revealed that they were massing up for a likely attack or kidnapping of vulnerable civilians, which informed the need to immediately attack the location. 

He said: “Intelligence received after the strike revealed that Janari was indeed eliminated alongside several other terrorists/kidnappers. 

“Similar air strikes were also carried out on 20 January 2024 on confirmed terrorists and kidnappers’ hideouts near Chukuba in Niger State with various degrees of success. 

“Feedback after the strikes was also positive as it confirmed that the targets were neutrlized and their mobility destroyed.”