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In a significant development in the fight against terrorism, US President Donald Trump announced the successful elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the deputy leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), by joint US and Nigerian military forces. The operation, described by Trump as a “meticulously planned” mission, marks a notable achievement in efforts to combat the ongoing threat posed by ISIS in Africa and beyond.
Joint Operation Against Terrorism
On May 15, 2026, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to outline the details of the operation, stating that it was executed under his direct orders. “Brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” he declared.
Al-Minuki had been a key figure within ISIS, having been placed under US sanctions in 2023 due to his connections with the group. Trump asserted that the elimination of al-Minuki would significantly weaken ISIS’s operational capabilities, declaring, “He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.”
Background on Abu-Bilal al-Minuki
A Nigerian national, al-Minuki was identified as a senior leader affiliated with ISIS’s operations in the Sahel region. The US State Department had previously designated him as a “specially designated global terrorist,” attributing to him vital roles within ISIS’s administration, which oversees operational planning and funding for the group worldwide.
In the wake of al-Minuki’s death, Trump expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the mission, although he refrained from disclosing specific details
