The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth has revealed that a directive from President Donald Trump prompted targeted military operations against ISIS-linked groups in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing at the White House, Hegseth said the instruction was issued about a year ago after concerns emerged over attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
He explained that the directive led to coordinated efforts involving intelligence gathering and deployment of military resources, carried out in collaboration with Nigerian forces.
According to Hegseth, the operation contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as a senior ISIS figure, during a joint mission in the Lake Chad Basin.
He added that the intelligence obtained during the campaign also resulted in the elimination of several ISIS fighters linked to attacks in the region.
Hegseth stated that the operations formed part of broader counterterrorism measures aimed at addressing security threats and protecting vulnerable populations.
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