United States and Nigerian forces have eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of the Islamic State group worldwide, in a joint operation, US President Donald Trump has announced.
Trump made the disclosure on his Truth Social platform, describing the mission as a meticulously planned strike based on solid intelligence.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social account on Saturday, Trump said the operation was the outcome of extensive intelligence gathering and strategic coordination aimed at tracking the activities of the terrorist leader in Africa.
According to the US president, the mission targeted one of the most active figures within ISIS, whom he accused of orchestrating attacks and supporting terrorist operations against both Americans and communities across Africa.
Trump stated that the elimination of al-Minuki would deal a major blow to ISIS operations globally and weaken the group’s presence on the African continent.
He also praised the Nigerian government and the country’s military authorities for their cooperation and support during the operation.
“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.
He added, “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.
“He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans. With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished. Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation.”
