The United States President Donald Trump has announced that American and Nigerian military forces jointly conducted an operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS) globally. The operation, described as highly coordinated, took place in Africa, though the exact location was not disclosed.
Trump Announces Successful Mission
In a statement released on social media, Trump praised the bravery and precision of both nations' armed forces. He stated, "Tonight, at my direction, 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 emphasized that the operation was a result of intelligence tracking that foiled al-Minuki's attempts to hide in Africa.
Details of the Operation
According to Trump, al-Minuki had been hiding somewhere in Africa before intelligence operatives located him. "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 said. The US President thanked the Nigerian government and military for their cooperation, asserting that the removal of al-Minuki would significantly diminish ISIS's global operational capabilities.
Official Responses Pending
As of the time of this report, Nigerian authorities had not officially released details of the mission. Neither the Nigerian military nor the Defence Headquarters had issued a formal statement confirming further operational details or casualty figures linked to the operation. The announcement comes amid ongoing security operations against terrorist groups in West Africa and the Sahel region.
Broader Security Context
Nigeria has continued to collaborate with international allies to combat insurgency, terrorism, and cross-border criminal activities. Trump's announcement follows previous threats of further military action in Nigeria if violence against Christians persists. In a separate interview with The New York Times, Trump warned that Washington could carry out additional strikes, referencing a Christmas Day operation against Daesh militants in north-west Nigeria. Nigerian authorities have rejected any religious framing of such actions, emphasizing that operations are joint and based on mutual security interests.
