Troops foil ISWAP attack in Azir as NAF airstrikes neutralise fleeing terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Military troops of Operation HADIN MAI have foiled attack by ISWAP, neutralising several terrorists and disrupting their attempted withdrawal after an attack on military formation in AZIR in Damboa LGA in Borno state.
Zagazola Makama report that the elimination of the terrorists followed an intervention by the Nigerian Airforce Component of Operation Hadin Kak who provided decisive close air support to ground troops during the attack in the early hours of Friday.
The attackers initially attempted to breach part of the defensive perimeter but were met with overwhelming and sustained firepower from gallant troops, with support from the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms.
After a prolonged firefight lasting over an hour, the terrorists were decisively overpowered and forced to withdraw.
During the engagement, the terrorists’ Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire affected troop-carrying vehicles which were partially gutted by fire. Despite this, troops maintained firm control of the situation.
Several terrorist weapons and ammunition were recovered from the enemy’s abandoned positions, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
Crucially, the operation did not end at the FOB. Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms immediately tracked the fleeing terrorists, enabling follow-up operations along identified withdrawal routes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
Sources said that at about 1:40 a.m., NAF assets were immediately scrambled to provide close air support to the engaged troops.
On arrival over Azir, our aircrew observed friendly forces firing in the direction of the terrorists’ withdrawal routes.
The sources added that a wide-area scan of the general location revealed terrorist elements regrouping and taking cover under trees, noting that the aircrew swiftly acquired the targets and engaged them in successive, precise passes.
According to the sourcss, the operation achieved its intended effect, with many terrorists neutralised and their ability to reorganise or mount further attacks in the area significantly degraded.
The coordinated strikes effectively disrupted the enemy’s movement and inflicted heavy casualties. After the engagements, the aircrew conducted further scans of the area, with no additional threats observed,” the sources said.
