Donald Trump has announced that United States and Nigerian forces have killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the global second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS). The US president made the statement on his Truth Social platform on Friday, claiming the operation was a meticulously planned and complex mission.
Details of the operation
Trump stated that the operation targeted 'the most active terrorist in the world' and that al-Minuki was eliminated through a joint effort of American and Nigerian armed forces. He expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for its partnership but did not disclose the exact location or nature of the attack.
Al-Minuki, a Nigerian national, had been designated as a 'specially designated global terrorist' by the Biden administration in 2023. At that time, the US State Department identified him as a senior Islamic State leader based in the Sahel region, serving in the group's general directorate of provinces, which provides operational guidance and funding globally.
Context and previous actions
The US has previously carried out strikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria, most recently in December. Since then, Washington has deployed drones and 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support to the Nigerian military in its fight against ISIS and al Qaeda-linked insurgencies spreading across West Africa. Nigerian military officials have stated that US forces operate strictly in a non-combat role.
Trump has in the past criticised Nigeria for allegedly failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants in the north-west. Nigeria denies discriminating against any religion, asserting that its security forces target armed groups that attack both Christians and Muslims.
This operation marks a significant blow to the Islamic State's global operations, according to Trump, who said that with al-Minuki's removal, the group's ability to plan attacks against Americans and terrorise people in Africa is greatly diminished.
