Breaking: US and Nigerian Forces Kill ISIS Second‑in‑Command, Trump Reports

President Donald Trump announced that a joint operation by U.S. and Nigerian forces resulted in the death of a senior ISIS commander, Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki, whom he said was the group’s second‑in‑command worldwide.

He made the announcement in a late‑Friday post on Truth Social, stating that the operation was carried out under his direction and described it as a “meticulously planned and very complex mission.”

Trump said the operation was executed by “brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria” and that it eliminated what he called “the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield.”

He identified the deceased as Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki, claiming the individual had been hiding in Africa while coordinating attacks for the Islamic State.

“Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump wrote.

Trump added that the leader “will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” emphasizing that the operation had weakened the global network of the organization.

“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” he said, and thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation.

“Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” the president added.

The announcement follows a series of military actions ordered by Trump against suspected ISIS militants in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.

In December, Trump announced a “powerful and deadly strike against ISIS” in northwestern Nigeria, accusing the group of targeting and killing innocent Christians there.

At the time of filing, Nigerian authorities had not released an official statement confirming the operation or the death of the commander.

See Trump’s full statement on Truth Social media below