US Says Top ISIS Leader Killed In Africa
US President Donald Trump has said that American and Nigerian forces killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by Washington as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, in a joint counterterrorism operation in Africa.
US Nigeria Operation Kills ISIS Leader
Trump said the mission was carried out by US forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria after detailed planning. He described al-Minuki as one of the most active ISIS figures and said he had been hiding in Africa before being tracked down.
The US President did not immediately provide detailed operational information on where exactly the strike took place or the method used in the attack.
Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki Under US Sanctions
Al-Minuki had been placed under US sanctions in 2023 over his alleged links to the Islamic State group. ISIS has maintained a presence in parts of West Africa through affiliated networks, including groups operating in and around the Lake Chad region.
Trump said al-Minuki’s removal would weaken ISIS’s global operations and reduce its ability to plan attacks, including threats against Americans.
ISIS Presence In West Africa
The operation highlights the continuing threat posed by ISIS-linked groups in Africa, where extremist networks have used weak governance, porous borders and local conflicts to expand their influence.
The joint mission also points to closer US-Nigeria counterterrorism cooperation. Nigerian security forces have been fighting jihadist groups for years, especially in the country’s northeast, where militant violence has displaced millions and created a long-running security crisis.
