The United States has withdrawn most of the 200 troops it deployed to Nigeria earlier this year following a successful joint operation against Islamist militants in the Lake Chad Basin. The months-long mission significantly disrupted the local and global network of the Islamic State (IS), whose most active branch is in Nigeria—and resulted in the killing of senior IS leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. While Nigerian Major General Michael Onoja stated the withdrawal would not impact their military momentum, both nations confirmed that intelligence-sharing and pre-existing US military personnel will remain in the country to counter ongoing jihadist attacks and widespread banditry.