In the continuing offensive operations to degrade and neutralize the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other criminal sub-national entities, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has in the past 48 hours been conducting joint artillery and air interdictions of identified ISWAP strong points and High Value Targets in the Lake Chad Islands (the Tumbuns).
Following recent collation of intelligence from multiple credible sources, the Cameroonian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform conducted a detailed surveillance of ISWAP strongholds in the Tumbuns which identified some of their key installations including training camps, logistics bases and other high value targets.
Based on this, a massive air and artillery interdiction was conducted by the Nigerian Air Force jets and the Artillery of MNJTF Sector 3 (Nigeria) while the Cameroonian ISR provided aerial observation. The Battle Damage Assessment shows that several terrorists were killed, while many buildings believed to have held valuable terror infrastructure were incinerated.
Secondary explosions which could be seen in the video suggests that operational vehicles and fuel storage were also impacted in the ensuing inferno.
As part of the strategy to sustain the tempo of the operations, in the early hours of today, the Chadian Sukhoi Ground Attack Aircrafts also conducted series of interdictions on multiple targets in the Tumbuns.
In the coming days, the combined air assets of Troops Contributing Countries under the auspices of the MNJTF will intensify interdictions to further degrade the capability of the terrorist organisation.
This is with a view to restraining ISWAP from carrying out any attack on military or civilian targets within the MNJTF area of operation.
The MNJTF with the support of Troop Contributing Countries and strategic partners, will sustain its current posture until the liquidation of threats of terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin is achieved.
Colonel Timothy Antigha
Chief of Military Public Information MNJTF,
N’Djamena Chad
