President Trump announced the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second in command of ISIS, following a joint U.S.-Nigerian military operation.
President Donald Trump confirmed late Friday that U.S. and Nigerian forces successfully executed an operation that resulted in the death of a prominent ISIS leader. Trump identified the individual as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the second-in-command of ISIS globally.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “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.” He emphasized that al-Minuki believed he could evade capture in Africa, unaware that U.S. intelligence had been monitoring his activities.
“He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” Trump added, highlighting the significance of this operation in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Trump expressed gratitude towards the Nigerian government for its cooperation throughout the mission, stating, “With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.” However, further details regarding the specifics of the operation have not yet been disclosed.
This announcement follows recent actions by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which reported multiple strikes against over 30 ISIS targets in Syria earlier this year. These strikes were part of a broader military effort to maintain pressure on the remnants of the terrorist organization.
CENTCOM indicated that U.S. forces targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage facilities using a combination of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft. In February, the command reported that more than 50 ISIS terrorists had been killed or captured, with over 100 ISIS infrastructure targets struck during two months of targeted operations in Syria.
The U.S. military’s intensified operations in the region were partly a response to an ambush that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. service members and an American interpreter in Palmyra, Syria, in December 2025. This incident prompted the launch of Operation Hawkeye Strike.
In a related context, Trump mentioned a positive conversation he had with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on January 27, stating that “all of the things having to do with Syria in that area are working out very, very well.” He expressed satisfaction with the developments in the region.
The recent operation against al-Minuki marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to combat ISIS and its influence across Africa and beyond. As the situation evolves, further updates are expected from U.S. military sources.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for additional comments regarding this operation.
According to Fox News Digital, the implications of al-Minuki’s death could reverberate through ISIS’s global operations, potentially impacting their ability to coordinate attacks and maintain influence in various regions.