President Donald Trump announced Friday that U.S. forces, in coordination with Nigerian military personnel, conducted a counterterrorism operation resulting in the death of a senior ISIS commander in Africa. The mission, described by Trump as complex and carefully coordinated, was carried out under his direction, according to his statement on Truth Social.
The operation targeted Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as a key operational figure and ISIS’s second-in-command on the continent. Trump stated that the commander’s removal is expected to disrupt ISIS operations in Africa and reduce threats to civilians and American interests.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the mission, noting that preliminary assessments indicate additional ISIS leaders may also have been killed. AFRICOM Commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson highlighted the collaboration with Nigerian forces as an example of effective multinational counterterrorism efforts.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu praised the operation as a “significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism,” emphasizing that the Nigerian Armed Forces played a central role alongside U.S. personnel. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth linked the strike to earlier directives aimed at protecting vulnerable communities, including Christians in Nigeria, from extremist violence.
The operation is part of ongoing U.S. counterterrorism initiatives in Africa, where ISIS affiliates have increased their presence in recent years. It follows previous U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria, including operations conducted in December 2025, reflecting continued American and allied engagement against terrorist threats on the continent.