President Trump announced Friday night that U.S. and Nigerian forces killed ISIS’s second in command during a meticulously planned operation in Africa.
The president described the effort as a “very complex mission” carried out flawlessly by American troops and the Armed Forces of Nigeria. According to Trump’s statement on Truth Social, the target was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom officials identified as the most active terrorist in the world at the time of the strike.
“Tonight, at my direction, 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,” Trump wrote.
The operation reportedly took place after intelligence sources tracked al-Minuki’s movements in Africa. Trump noted that the ISIS leader had believed he could hide on the continent, but U.S. partners maintained surveillance on his activities.
“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,” the president continued in his post. He added that al-Minuki would no longer be able to terrorize people in Africa or help plan attacks targeting Americans.
Trump emphasized that the removal of the senior figure has greatly diminished ISIS’s global operations. He also thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership in the mission, calling the cooperation essential to its success.
Officials have not released additional details such as the precise location of the strike or the number of forces involved. The announcement comes as the administration continues to highlight counterterrorism efforts abroad.
Al-Minuki’s death marks a significant blow to ISIS leadership, according to the president’s account. Trump concluded his statement with the phrase “GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The White House has described the mission as one of the most intricate conducted in recent years, though further operational specifics remain limited at this stage. Nigerian authorities have not issued an independent statement confirming their role.
ISIS has not publicly commented on the reported death of its second-in-command. Analysts note that the group has faced repeated leadership losses in recent years, yet it continues to maintain networks across parts of Africa and the Middle East.
The operation reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to work with African partners against extremist organizations. Trump’s announcement positions the strike as a direct result of improved intelligence sharing between Washington and Abuja.
Further developments are expected as additional information becomes available from both governments. The incident is being monitored by security officials for any potential retaliatory actions by remaining ISIS elements.