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Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), Gen. James Hecker, announced that the U.S. Air Force plans to conduct airstrikes targeting terrorist groups throughout Africa.
He made this statement during a digital news conference on Wednesday, held at the 2025 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium in Lusaka, Zambia.
Hecker emphasized that terrorist organizations such as ISIS represent significant threats to both African nations and the United States and will be pursued by the U.S., similar to recent operations against ISIS in Somalia.
“They are considerable high-value targets that pose risks to African countries and to the U.S. Thus, we will persist in our efforts against terrorist groups that endanger our African allies as well as the United States,” he remarked. He also noted the U.S.'s readiness to collaborate with African air forces, extending support not only in terms of security but also through humanitarian aid and disaster response.
Regarding the Boko Haram insurgency and the potential for the U.S. Air Force to assist the Nigerian military in achieving air superiority over the terrorists, Hecker stated that the U.S. has already been providing training and equipment to Nigeria for some time. “As you know, the U.S. government has offered training and resources to Nigeria for quite a while, and we hope that it will assist them.”
“However, our focus at this conference is not on air superiority or conflict. We are here to explore how we can support each other – how African nations can lend their assistance to one another – which is the primary objective of this gathering,” Hecker added.
Zambia’s air force commander, Oscar Nyoni, shared insights about the symposium and how AACS member states would address humanitarian needs in the event of a disaster.
He explained that, through AACS, member states would efficiently provide humanitarian aid or disaster relief items such as food, logistics, supplies, and aerial vehicles, contributing according to their capabilities.
