US, Nigerian Forces Kill ISIS Deputy Leader in Joint Operation
United States President, Donald Trump, has announced that American and Nigerian forces jointly carried out a military operation that killed a top ISIS commander identified as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the terrorist group’s second-in-command globally.
Trump disclosed this in a post on his Truth Social platform late Friday, saying the operation was conducted on his directive and involved what he described as a “meticulously planned and very complex mission.”
According to the US president, the operation was executed by “brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria” and successfully eliminated what he called “the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield.”
Trump said Abu-Bilal al-Minuki had been hiding in Africa while coordinating terrorist activities linked to the Islamic State group.
“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump wrote.
He added that the ISIS leader “will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” stressing that the operation had dealt a major blow to the global network of the terrorist organisation.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” Trump stated, while commending the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the mission.
“Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” he added.
The announcement marks the latest military action reportedly ordered by Trump against suspected ISIS militants operating in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.
In December, the US president had also announced the authorisation of what he described as a “powerful and deadly strike against ISIS” in northwestern Nigeria, accusing the terrorist group of targeting and killing innocent Christians in the region.
As of the time of filing this report, Nigerian authorities had yet to issue an official statement confirming details of the latest operation or the reported death of the ISIS commander.
