The strikes hit the village of Jilli on Saturday, with casualty figures varying widely. A UN security report seen by AFP said at least 56 people were killed and 14 injured when Nigerian Air Force fighter jets carried out the operation targeting suspected militants.

Amnesty International said more than 100 people were killed and 35 seriously wounded, while local chief Lawan Zanna Nur estimated total casualties, including injured, at around 200. A market committee member, Bulama Mulima Abbas, said 36 bodies had been counted at the scene, describing the victims as traders.

The Nigerian military said it had conducted a “precision air strike” on a known militant enclave and logistics hub near Jilli, reporting that “scores of terrorists” were killed but making no reference to civilian casualties.

In a separate statement, the air force said it had launched an investigation into reports that the strike may have hit a local market, causing civilian deaths.

Nigeria has faced repeated incidents of civilian casualties during air operations against insurgents, including fighters from Boko Haram and its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province, which have waged an insurgency since 2009.

Recent cases include a January 2025 airstrike in Zamfara state that killed at least 16 people after vigilantes were mistaken for armed groups, and a December 2023 strike in Kaduna state that killed at least 85 people when a religious gathering was misidentified as militants.

Violence has intensified in recent months, with more than 100 people killed across northern Nigeria in the past 10 days in attacks attributed to both insurgents and criminal gangs, according to local accounts.The security situation has drawn international scrutiny, including from Donald Trump, whose administration has pressed Nigeria to intensify its campaign against militant groups.

The United States has also deployed about 200 troops to provide technical and training support to Nigerian forces.

Nigeria’s government has stepped up legal action against suspected militants, with Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi saying authorities had prosecuted 508 cases and secured nearly 386 convictions in mass terrorism trials.

According to a statement released by the Israeli Defense Ministry, Hegseth conveyed strong backing for Israel’s military operations and said the United States stood with the country as the conflict continued to unfold. The remarks were made during a discussion between the two defence officials held overnight, the ministry said.Katz thanked the United States for what the ministry described as extensive assistance in defending Israeli citizens, highlighting the role of American support in Israel’s security response during the current crisis.Washington reiterates security supportThe statement from the defence ministry said Hegseth expressed Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security and reiterated that the United States supported Israel’s efforts to respond to threats facing the country.The ministry said Hegseth told Katz that Israel should “keep going until the end,” a message it said underscored the depth of U.S. backing during the ongoing confrontation. The statement did not provide additional details about the operational context of the conversation or the specific measures discussed between the two sides.The United States has long been Israel’s primary security partner, providing military assistance, intelligence cooperation and advanced defence systems. U.S. officials have repeatedly described Israel’s security as a key component of Washington’s strategic policy in the Middle East.Israeli officials acknowledge U.S. assistanceIn the same conversation, Katz thanked Hegseth for the support the United States has provided to Israel during the conflict, according to the ministry’s statement.The Israeli defence minister said U.S. assistance had been significant in helping protect Israeli civilians, the ministry said, though it did not specify the form of the assistance referenced.The defence ministry’s statement characterised the discussions as part of ongoing coordination between the two countries’ defence establishments as the situation in the region evolves.Security cooperation between the United States and Israel typically includes joint planning, intelligence sharing and operational coordination, particularly during periods of heightened regional tension.Coordination amid escalating regional tensionsThe conversation between Hegseth and Katz took place against the backdrop of widening instability in the Middle East, with military developments drawing increased attention from regional governments and global markets.Israel’s defence ministry said the talks were part of continuing engagement between the two governments as they monitor developments and maintain coordination on security matters.Officials from both countries have maintained close contact since the conflict escalated, reflecting the longstanding strategic partnership between Washington and Israel. The defence ministry statement did not indicate whether additional meetings or consultations were scheduled between the two leaders.The ministry also did not disclose whether the discussions addressed specific military operations or future policy decisions, noting only that Hegseth reiterated U.S. support for Israel and its right to defend its citizens.

The overnight exchange highlighted the ongoing diplomatic and military coordination between the United States and Israel as the conflict continues to shape the regional security environment.