The US President praised American and Nigerian forces for carrying out a complex mission
US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that American forces, working alongside the Nigerian Armed Forces, had successfully eliminated senior ISIS leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in a major counterterrorism operation in Africa.
In a statement, Trump described the mission as “meticulously planned” and “highly complex”, saying the operation removed one of the world’s most active terrorists from the battlefield.
According to Trump, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki served as the second-in-command of ISIS globally and had been operating from Africa while helping coordinate terror activities.
Trump says ISIS operative can “terrorise no more”
Trump said the ISIS leader believed he could remain hidden in Africa but claimed US intelligence agencies had closely tracked his movements.
“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 said.
“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” he added.
The US President further stated that the elimination of al-Minuki would significantly weaken ISIS’s global operations.
“He will no longer terrorise the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans. With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” Trump said.
He also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation and partnership during the operation.
US had designated him global terrorist in 2023
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki had earlier been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US State Department in June 2023 during the Biden administration.
At the time, American authorities identified him as a senior ISIS leader operating under multiple aliases, including Abubakar Mainok and Abor Mainok.
The designation subjected him and individuals linked to ISIS to sanctions over their involvement in terrorist activities and the group’s international operations.
Joint operation highlights counterterror cooperation
The successful operation is being viewed as a significant example of growing counterterror cooperation between the United States and African security partners, particularly in regions facing increasing extremist threats.
While operational details regarding the strike were not immediately disclosed, Trump’s announcement underscored Washington’s continued focus on targeting senior ISIS figures outside the Middle East.
ISIS and its affiliated groups continue to operate across parts of Africa, where extremist organisations have increasingly expanded their activities in recent years.
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