WASHINGTON/ABUJA — United States and Nigerian forces have jointly carried out an operation resulting in the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the global second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS), according to statements made by President Trump and confirmed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. The operation targeted al-Minuki at his compound in the Lake Chad Basin region, a location within Borno State, Nigeria.
The precision air-land operation, described as "flawlessly executed" and "meticulously planned," dealt a significant blow to the ISIS leadership, with initial assessments confirming the death of al-Minuki and "several of his lieutenants." The confirmation from both the U.S. and Nigerian leadership, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, highlights a coordinated effort against the militant group's presence in West Africa.
Al-Minuki was characterized by President Trump as "the most active terrorist in the world" and a figure who believed he could operate with impunity in Africa, a notion disproven by the intelligence gathered leading to the strike.
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Background and Context
This operation follows earlier U.S. strikes against Islamist bases in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day last year, which were initiated following President Trump's accusations of persecution against Christians in the region. The Nigerian government has consistently denied these accusations, asserting that its security forces target armed groups indiscriminately, affecting both Christian and Muslim populations.
The U.S. has previously deployed approximately 200 troops to Nigeria, primarily in a non-combat advisory and intelligence-gathering capacity. These deployments are part of a broader counter-insurgency initiative aimed at supporting the Nigerian military in combating ISIS and al-Qaeda-linked insurgencies spreading across West Africa.
President Tinubu underscored the successful collaboration, stating that Nigerian forces worked closely with their U.S. counterparts in a "daring joint operation." While the U.S. military officials have indicated their role was strictly non-combat, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has confirmed the strikes targeting ISIS-linked militants. The details surrounding the "sources who kept us informed" remain unspecified, as do the precise nature of the U.S. forces' involvement beyond intelligence and training support.
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