U.S. military personnel deployed to Nigeria are operating MQ-9 Reaper drones for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, according to officials from both countries.

The deployment, consisting of roughly 200 American troops, is focused on training Nigerian forces as they combat a long-running insurgency by jihadist militants. The drones, capable of carrying out strikes, are currently being used strictly for surveillance purposes.

Nigerian military officials say the partnership has strengthened intelligence sharing and improved coordination in counterterrorism operations. A joint intelligence fusion cell, staffed by both U.S. and Nigerian personnel, is working to integrate data from multiple sources to track militant activity.

The drone operations follow earlier reports of U.S. flights over the region and come after Washington closed a major drone base in neighboring Niger last year.

U.S. officials maintain that troops are not engaged in combat roles, emphasizing that the mission is designed to help Nigeria independently detect and disrupt terrorist threats.

The increased cooperation comes as violence continues across parts of Nigeria, with militant groups expanding beyond traditional strongholds, prompting closer security ties between Abuja and Washington.