ISIS Second-in-Command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki eliminated in major US-Nigeria strike
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the alleged second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS) globally, has been killed in a high-level counterterrorism operation carried out jointly by United States and Nigerian forces, according to US President Donald Trump.
In a statement posted on Truth Social on Friday, Trump described the operation as a meticulously planned and highly complex mission aimed at eliminating one of the world’s most active terrorist leaders.
“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.
Trump further stated that al-Minuki had attempted to evade capture by hiding in Africa, but intelligence sources continuously monitored his movements. He also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the operation, though specific operational details were not disclosed.
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki had been under US sanctions since 2023 due to his deep involvement with ISIS. The US State Department previously identified him as a senior ISIS leader based in the Sahel region and a member of the group’s General Directorate of Provinces — the administrative structure responsible for providing operational guidance and financial support to ISIS affiliates worldwide.
His leadership role made him a key figure in coordinating ISIS-linked activities across multiple regions, significantly influencing the organization’s global reach.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” Trump said, highlighting the strategic significance of the strike.
Security analysts view al-Minuki’s death as a major setback for ISIS’s international command structure, particularly in Africa where extremist networks have expanded operations in recent years. The successful joint mission also underscores growing counterterrorism cooperation between the United States and Nigeria in combating extremist threats across the Sahel and broader African region.
