A recent U.S. military operation in Nigeria, timed just after a new policy announcement from the Trump administration, underscores the Pentagon’s latest approach: merging counterterrorism with the war on drugs. The success in targeting a top Islamic State commander raises questions, however, about whether conflating these two distinct missions ultimately weakens them both.

U.S. officials have expressed concern over al Qaeda’s recent calls for attacks, prompting the National Counterterrorism Center to issue a new alert on Friday. Though details remain sparse, the agency’s warning underscores the ongoing threat this group continues to pose.