Trump confirms death of ISIL second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki

US and Nigerian Forces Conduct Joint Operation Against ISIL Commander

A joint operation conducted by United States and Nigerian forces resulted in the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, who was designated as a “global terrorist” by the US State Department in 2023. According to President Donald Trump, the operation aimed to eliminate al-Minuki from the battlefield.

Trump stated that the mission was carried out by American and Nigerian forces, which executed a complex plan to neutralize the target. The President also thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership in the operation.

Al-Minuki had been under US sanctions since 2023 due to his links to ISIL. As a senior leader of the group’s Sahel-based operations, he was part of the General Directorate of Provinces, which provides operational guidance and funding worldwide.

The US State Department described al-Minuki as a key figure in ISIS’s global operation before his designation as a “global terrorist”. Trump stated that al-Minuki’s removal would significantly diminish ISIS’s global operation.

This operation follows previous actions taken by the US against ISIL in Nigeria, including an air strike on Sokoto State last Christmas. The US has since deployed hundreds of troops to provide technical support and intelligence sharing in the fight against armed groups.

Source: Al Jazeera