United States President Donald Trump announced that a joint military operation between American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria has successfully eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS).

Making the announcement on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the operation as a meticulously planned and highly complex mission executed under his direct command to remove the active terrorist leader from the battlefield.

According to the US President, American intelligence tracking systems successfully monitored the movements of al-Minuki, a Nigerian national who believed he could evade capture by hiding within the African continent.

Trump emphasized that the neutralization of al-Minuki severely diminishes the global operational capabilities of ISIS, ensuring he can no longer terrorize African populations or orchestrate targeted attacks against American citizens.

The targeted terrorist leader had previously been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States government in 2023, placing him under severe international treasury and economic sanctions.

While the exact operational location of the military strike within West Africa was not explicitly disclosed in the initial briefing, the mission marks a deeper phase of tactical cooperation between Washington and Abuja.

The joint operation follows an increased deployment of US military personnel and drone assets to the region to provide non-combat intelligence sharing, tactical training, and precision technical support to local forces.

Trump expressed his formal gratitude to the Nigerian government for its strategic partnership during the mission, highlighting the collaborative effort required to counter expanding insurgent groups across the Sahel.