U.S. President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that American forces and Nigerian armed forces had killed Abu Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as “the number two ISIS leader in the world,” during a joint military operation.
Trump said the ISIS leader was eliminated on his direct orders in what he called a “flawless, highly planned and very sophisticated operation.”
Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed that al-Minuki, whom he described as “the world’s most active terrorist,” believed he could hide in Africa, “but our sources constantly monitored his activities.”
According to the U.S. president, the killing of the ISIS figure has significantly weakened the group’s global operations and prevented him from continuing to “terrorize the people of Africa” or help plan attacks against Americans.
Trump praised the “bravery” of U.S. forces and the cooperation of the Nigerian government, saying the operation strengthens the security of both Americans and people in the region.
However, he did not provide additional details about the exact time or location of the operation, how al-Minuki was identified and targeted, or whether there were civilian casualties or arrests connected to the raid.
The United States and its allies have continued targeting senior ISIS leaders over recent years while increasingly focusing on extremist networks operating in Africa and the Middle East.
Analysts say the operation highlights growing international concern over the expansion of ISIS-linked groups across parts of Africa, where militant organizations have strengthened their presence amid instability and weak state control.
Experts also note that while the death of a senior commander may disrupt operations temporarily, militant networks often retain the ability to reorganize unless broader security and governance challenges are addressed.
