US-Nigeria Joint Operation Kills Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a Key Global ISIS Leader
US and Nigerian forces have carried out a joint military operation that resulted in the death of a senior commander of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group in Nigeria. US President Donald Trump confirmed the news on Friday evening, calling it a strategic blow to the terrorist group.
The main target of the operation was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. According to President Trump, he is the second in command of ISIS globally. Minuki, a Nigerian citizen, was previously designated as a global terrorist by the US State Department in 2023.
According to intelligence data, Minuki played a crucial role in the ISIS network:
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed via social media that the attack took place at Minuki’s hideout complex located in the Lake Chad region. The operation, described as a bold and well-planned mission, also killed several of Minuki’s trusted lieutenants.
The commander of US Africa Command (Africom), General Dagvin Anderson, stated that initial assessments indicate that several other ISIS leaders were also killed in the attack. He assured that no US military personnel were injured during the mission in northeastern Nigeria.
The success of this operation marks a turning point in diplomatic relations between the Trump administration and the Tinubu administration. Previously, relations between the two countries had been strained after Trump threatened to halt aid and take unilateral military action regarding the issue of protecting Christians in Nigeria.
President Tinubu’s spokesman, Daniel Bwala, stated that this cooperation demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to addressing insecurity. “Our relationship has improved dramatically. The US and Nigeria have worked together from the beginning to the end,” said Bwala.
James Barnett, a Nigerian specialist at the Hudson Institute, called this the most significant counter-terrorism operation involving the United States in West Africa in recent years. However, analysts warn that while this attack disrupts operations, it is too early to conclude that the ISWAP group is completely crippled.
The northern region of Nigeria, home to approximately 130 million people, remains a vulnerable zone where local authorities continue to struggle against long-standing insurgent violence that affects all segments of society regardless of religious background. (The Washington Post/I-2)