The United States and Nigerian armed forces have carried out a joint military operation that led to the killing of a senior leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, identified as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
Announcing the development, former U.S. President Donald Trump said the operation followed extensive intelligence gathering and strategic coordination aimed at tracking the militant leader’s activities in Africa.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump described al-Minuki as the second-in-command of ISIS globally and one of the group’s most active operatives. He accused the commander of orchestrating attacks and supporting terrorist operations targeting both Americans and communities across Africa.
According to him, the mission—conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces—was highly complex and successfully neutralised the target.
“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 said.
He added that the militant leader had been under close surveillance, noting that intelligence sources provided critical information about his movements and operations.
Trump stated that the killing of al-Minuki would significantly weaken ISIS’s global network and reduce its operational capacity, particularly in Africa.
He also praised the Nigerian government and military authorities for their cooperation, describing the partnership as key to the mission’s success.
