Donald Trump on Friday announced that American forces, working alongside Nigerian armed forces, had eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the second-in-command of the terror group Islamic State globally.
According to Trump, the operation was carried out in Nigeria after what he called a “meticulously planned and very complex mission.”
Trump Claims ISIS Network Has Suffered Major Blow
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said Abu-Bilal al-Minuki had been one of the “most active terrorists in the world” and accused him of helping coordinate operations targeting Americans and civilians in Africa.
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” Trump wrote.
He added that the militant leader believed he could remain hidden in Africa but was tracked through intelligence sources.
Trump further claimed that the elimination of al-Minuki would significantly weaken ISIS’s global operational network.
Nigeria-US Counterterrorism Cooperation Highlighted
Trump thanked the Nigerian government for cooperating with the United States during the mission, highlighting continued security coordination between Washington and Abuja in counterterrorism operations.
Nigeria has faced years of insurgency threats from extremist groups operating in parts of West Africa, including factions linked to ISIS and Boko Haram.
No Independent Verification Yet
As of now, there has been no immediate independent confirmation from US defense officials or Nigerian authorities regarding the operation or the exact role attributed to Abu-Bilal al-Minuki within ISIS.
Further details about the mission, including when and where it occurred, have not yet been officially released.
The development comes amid ongoing global counterterrorism efforts targeting ISIS leadership networks operating across the Middle East and Africa.
