US President Donald Trump announced that a joint military operation carried out by American and Nigerian forces successfully neutralized Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of the Islamic State globally. Trump announced the mission on Truth Social, saying the Nigerian militant had been tracked through intelligence sources and would no longer coordinate attacks targeting Africa or the United States. Al-Minuki, a Nigerian national who was designated as a specially designated global terrorist in 2023, operated as a senior Sahel-based leader managing operational funding and guidance worldwide. The announcement comes as the US deepens security cooperation with Nigeria, including the recent deployment of 200 troops and advanced drone assets to provide tactical intelligence support to the Nigerian military.
The Guardian
