U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, was killed during a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by American and Nigerian forces.
The announcement was made by Trump on Friday via Truth Social, where he described the mission as a “meticulously planned and very complex operation” executed at his direction by U.S. forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The development marks a significant escalation in joint counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States as both countries intensify efforts to contain the growing threat posed by ISIS and Al-Qaeda-linked insurgent groups across West Africa.
Trump said the operation successfully eliminated one of the world’s most active terrorist leaders, whom he claimed had been operating from Africa.
- “Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” Trump stated.
- “Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing.”
- Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for supporting the operation, describing the partnership as critical to the success of the mission.
The U.S. President, however, did not disclose the precise location where the operation took place.
