Trump Says ISIS Deputy Leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki Killed in Joint US-Nigeria Operation
May 2026 | By Azad News
United States President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as the global second-in-command of ISIS, had been killed during a joint military operation carried out by American and Nigerian forces.
In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump said the mission was conducted under his direction and involved close coordination between US forces and the Nigerian military.
Trump described the operation as “meticulously planned” and said the target had attempted to hide in Africa while continuing militant activities linked to ISIS.
According to the US president, intelligence sources had been monitoring al-Minuki’s movements prior to the operation that resulted in his elimination.
Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation and support in carrying out the mission against the militant leader.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu later confirmed the operation in an official statement, saying the country’s armed forces worked closely with the United States to strike a major blow against the Islamic State group.
Nigeria’s defence forces described Abu Bilal al-Minuki as a senior ISIS figure and one of the world’s most active terrorists involved in extremist operations.
The development comes amid ongoing international efforts to counter militant groups operating across Africa and other conflict-affected regions.
The US had previously carried out military strikes in parts of Nigeria following concerns raised by Trump regarding extremist violence and security conditions in the region.
Conclusion
The reported killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki marks a significant counterterrorism development for both the United States and Nigeria, as efforts continue to weaken ISIS networks and militant operations across Africa.
This article is a rewritten summary based on publicly available information. It has been fully paraphrased for informational purposes only and does not reproduce any original copyrighted text.
