The senior Islamic State commander has been killed during a joint military operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in northeastern Nigeria. The strike happened early Saturday in the Lake Chad Basin area of Borno State.
US President Donald Trump announced that the operation killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a top ISIS leader who had been under American sanctions since 2023. Trump described him as one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised the mission and said it showed strong cooperation between both countries in the fight against terrorism. He confirmed that several of al-Minuki’s close fighters were also killed during the attack on their hideout.
According to the Nigerian army, intelligence reports helped security forces discover a secret militant base in a remote part of Borno State. Soldiers then carried out a coordinated air and ground assault with support from the United States Africa Command, known as AFRICOM.
Military officials said no Nigerian or American soldiers were injured during the mission. They believe the death of al-Minuki is a major blow to ISIS operations in Africa and other parts of the world.
Borno State has suffered years of violence from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters. The conflict has killed thousands of people and forced millions from their homes.
The United States has recently increased military support to Nigeria by providing drones, intelligence sharing, and training for Nigerian troops. President Tinubu thanked Trump for supporting the fight against terrorism and called for more operations against armed groups across the country.
