United States President Donald Trump has announced the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIS worldwide, following a joint military operation conducted by American and Nigerian forces.
Trump revealed the news in a statement shared on social media, describing the mission as a landmark counterterrorism achievement carried out under his direct orders.
“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,” Trump declared.
The President indicated that intelligence assets had been monitoring al-Minuki’s movements for some time, noting that the militant had apparently believed he could evade detection by operating on the African continent.
“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump stated.
The President went on to outline the significance of the operation for both regional and global security, saying, “He will no longer terrorise the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans. With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.”
Trump also extended his gratitude to Nigeria for its role in the mission, publicly thanking the Nigerian government for its “partnership on this operation.”
The killing marks a significant moment in the ongoing campaign against ISIS and its expanding presence across sub-Saharan Africa, where affiliated groups have been responsible for a growing number of deadly attacks in recent years.
