A senior United States counterterrorism official has claimed that 199 jihadists were killed during a recent military operation in Nigeria, describing it as the largest number of enemy fighters neutralised in a single operation since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Sebastian Gorka made the disclosure during a public appearance, where he recounted watching the operation unfold live from the White House Situation Room. He said the experience felt “like being in a Tom Clancy movie”, but stressed that the events were real.
“You want to know whether we’re winning? Three weeks ago, in Nigeria, I watched it live from the Situation Room. It was like being in a Tom Clancy movie, but it’s better because it’s real,” Gorka said.
According to him, US operators killed 199 jihadists during the mission, a figure he described as unprecedented in the post-9/11 era.
“I watched our operators kill 199 jihadists in one operation. Why is this important? It is the biggest enemy neutralisation since September 11. These are 199 jihadists who will not harm Americans again,” he added.
Gorka also said the operation produced an exceptional intelligence breakthrough. He revealed that security forces recovered such a large volume of electronic devices and digital materials from the terrorists’ camps that an additional aircraft was required to transport them.
“From that raid, we needed an extra plane to bring home all the electronic material captured in those camps. The haul was three times bigger than any enemy electronics seizure since 9/11,” he said.
He explained that counterterrorism experts are now examining the recovered materials to better understand how ISIS operatives communicate and coordinate their activities.
According to Gorka, the intelligence gathered from the operation could prove invaluable in strengthening future counterterrorism efforts.
“This information is priceless because our experts are now analysing it to understand how ISIS communicates. We are firmly back in the fight against terrorism, and it is remarkable to see our professionals at work,” he said.
The Nigerian authorities have yet to publicly comment on the operation or independently verify Gorka’s claims.
Leave a Reply