US and Nigeria Carry Out Joint Strike Against Senior ISIS Commander
US President Donald Trump has announced that American and Nigerian forces carried out a coordinated operation that resulted in the killing of a senior Islamic State (ISIS) leader, marking a significant escalation in joint counterterrorism efforts across West Africa.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was “meticulously planned” and executed by “brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria” targeting what he described as one of the most active terrorist operatives globally.
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission,” Trump said.
ISIS Commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki Identified as Target
Trump identified the militant as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIS globally and a senior figure linked to the group’s operations in Africa’s Sahel region.
He claimed the militant had been tracked through intelligence sources before being eliminated in the joint operation.
“He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” Trump said, adding that the mission significantly weakens ISIS’s global operational capacity.
Al-Minuki had previously been designated as a sanctioned terrorist by the US State Department in 2023 due to his alleged involvement in ISIS financial and operational networks.
West Africa Becomes Key Battleground in Counterterrorism Efforts
The operation highlights the growing focus of international counterterrorism activity in West Africa, where ISIS-linked groups and rival extremist organizations, including Boko Haram, continue to operate.
Nigeria has been engaged in long-running military campaigns against insurgent groups and armed criminal networks, often referred to locally as “bandits,” particularly in the country’s northwest and northeastern regions.
Security analysts note that ISIS-affiliated factions in the Sahel have expanded influence in border regions of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, complicating regional security efforts.
US Military Cooperation With Nigeria Expands
Trump thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, describing the partnership as essential to the success of the operation.
In recent months, the United States has expanded its military and intelligence support in Nigeria, including training programs and joint operations aimed at disrupting extremist networks.
Reports indicate that hundreds of US personnel have been deployed in advisory and support roles as part of broader counterterrorism cooperation in the region.
Previous Strikes and Rising Regional Tensions
The announcement follows a series of recent US-supported operations targeting ISIS-linked fighters in the Sahel region, including airstrikes conducted in northern Nigeria and neighboring countries.
Earlier operations reportedly focused on Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP), an affiliate of ISIS active across porous borders in West Africa.
The region has seen increasing instability due to overlapping insurgencies, weakened state control, and cross-border militant movements.
Strategic Impact on ISIS Operations
US officials have long viewed ISIS leadership figures in Africa as part of a decentralized but globally connected structure that provides funding, recruitment, and operational coordination.
Al-Minuki was previously linked to ISIS’s administrative and financial networks, which the US government described as part of its global provincial structure responsible for supporting affiliates worldwide.
His reported death is expected to disrupt command operations in the Sahel, although security experts caution that extremist networks in the region remain highly fragmented and resilient.
No Operational Details Released
The White House did not provide specific details regarding the exact location of the strike, the type of military assets used, or whether airstrikes or ground operations were involved.
Nigerian authorities have also not released an independent statement confirming operational specifics, though the country has previously acknowledged joint counterterrorism activities with US support.
Broader US Strategy Against Terror Networks
The operation reflects Washington’s continued focus on dismantling ISIS leadership structures outside the Middle East, particularly in Africa where the group has maintained an active presence despite losses in Iraq and Syria.
US counterterrorism strategy has increasingly prioritized:
- Disrupting ISIS financial networks
- Targeting leadership in Africa and Asia
- Supporting regional military coalitions
- Preventing cross-border extremist expansion
Officials argue that coordinated strikes with partner nations remain central to containing global jihadist networks.
