Trump says ISIS deputy killed in joint US–Nigeria operation
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, was killed in a joint operation by American and Nigerian forces.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the mission was carried out “at my direction” and involved “a meticulously planned and very complex” operation that eliminated “the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield.”
Trump did not disclose the exact location of the operation but said al-Minuki “thought he could hide in Africa,” adding that U.S. sources had tracked his movements.
Al-Minuki, a Nigerian national, had been designated a “specially designated global terrorist” in 2023, according to the U.S. Federal Register during the administration of Joe Biden.
Trump thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, praising what he described as a successful security partnership between the two countries.
The remarks come amid previous criticism by Trump accusing Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militant attacks in the country’s northwest. Nigerian authorities have repeatedly denied discrimination on religious grounds, saying their forces target armed groups that attack both Christians and Muslims.
The United States has increased its security engagement with Nigeria in recent months amid concerns over the spread of ISIS- and al-Qaeda-linked insurgencies across West Africa.
In December 2025, U.S. forces carried out strikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria. Since then, Washington has deployed drones and about 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support to the Nigerian military.
Nigerian military officials said earlier this year that U.S. forces in the country operate strictly in non-combat roles focused on advisory and intelligence assistance.