Trump described the joint US-Nigerian operation against ISIS-linked leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as a “meticulously planned and very complex mission” carried out in Africa
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria carried out a successful joint military operation in Africa that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a senior ISIS-linked militant leader.
Trump shared the announcement through a statement posted on his Truth Social account, which was later circulated on X. In the post, Trump described the mission as a major success against ISIS and praised both American and Nigerian forces for carrying out the operation.
Trump Says Forces Carried Out “Complex Mission”
In his statement, Trump said the mission was carefully planned and executed under his direction.
Trump said brave American forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces “successfully carried out a carefully planned and highly complex mission” to eliminate what he called “the world’s most active terrorist” from the battlefield.
He claimed that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the “second in command of ISIS globally,” believed he could hide in Africa. However, Trump said intelligence sources kept officials informed about his activities and movements, which helped forces track and target him successfully.
Trump also stated that al-Minuki would “no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.” According to Trump, ISIS’s global operations were “greatly diminished” after the militant leader’s removal.
At the end of the statement, Trump thanked the Government of Nigeria for supporting the mission and praised the partnership between the two countries. He concluded the post by writing, “GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Details of the Operation Still Unclear
Although Trump described the mission as flawless and highly coordinated, officials have not publicly shared full details about the operation.
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Authorities have not confirmed:
- The exact location of the strike
- How the operation was carried out
- Whether troops used airstrikes or ground forces
- The timeline of the mission
- Whether additional militants were killed
Trump’s statement suggested that intelligence gathering played an important role in tracking al-Minuki before the operation took place.
Who Was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki?
Reports identified Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as a Nigerian-born ISIS-linked militant connected to extremist activities in West Africa.
US authorities reportedly sanctioned him in 2023 because of alleged ties to the Islamic State network. Trump described him as the “second in command of ISIS globally” and one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists.
He was born in 1982 in Nigeria’s Borno state. Over the years, he rose through the ranks of ISIS and eventually became one of the group’s top leaders. As a result, global authorities designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist because of his major role in planning and carrying out terror attacks across Africa and beyond.
ISIS Continues Operating in West Africa
ISIS remains active in Africa through regional groups, especially the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
These groups operate in:
- Nigeria
- Niger
- Chad
- Mali
Other parts of the Sahel region
The organizations have carried out bombings, kidnappings, insurgent attacks, and assaults on both civilians and military forces across West Africa.
Nigeria has faced security challenges from extremist violence for many years, particularly from Boko Haram and ISIS-linked factions. International cooperation, including support from the United States, has focused on reducing the strength of these militant groups and targeting their leadership networks.
Conclusion
US President Donald Trump has claimed that American and Nigerian forces successfully killed senior ISIS-linked militant Abu-Bilal al-Minuki during a joint military operation in Africa.
According to Trump, the mission significantly weakened ISIS operations and removed a dangerous extremist leader connected to militant activities in West Africa.
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