HAMILTON — US President Donald Trump announced Friday that a joint military operation conducted by American and Nigerian forces allegedly killed one of the world’s most senior ISIS leaders in Africa.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the mission targeted Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-highest-ranking ISIS figure globally and one of the group’s most active operatives.
According to Trump, the operation was carried out following detailed intelligence tracking by US agencies. He said the militant leader had been hiding in Africa while continuing to support extremist activities and plot attacks against American interests.
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission,” Trump wrote, adding that the operation significantly weakened ISIS’s global network.
Trump also praised the Nigerian government for cooperating with Washington during the mission.
Nigeria has faced years of insurgent violence linked to extremist organizations, including Boko Haram and the ISIS-affiliated ISWAP group. The country’s security forces have intensified counterterrorism operations in recent years with support from international allies.
Earlier this year, the United States deployed nearly 100 military personnel to northern Nigeria to assist local forces through intelligence sharing, technical support and military training as attacks by armed groups increased across the region.
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