WASHINGTON: In a major setback to the terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS), U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the group’s global second-in-command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, has been killed. The high-profile target was eliminated during a highly complex, joint military operation executed by American forces alongside the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Taking to his platform Truth Social, President Trump stated that the flawless mission was carried out at his direct order, leveraging precise intelligence provided by local assets tracking the operative’s movements in Africa.
Al-Minuki, also known as Abubakar Muhammad al-Mainuki, was a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). He played a pivotal role in channeling international funding and providing strategic guidance to global terror cells. Recognized as a core threat to international stability, he had been officially designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States in June 2023. Defense analysts assess that his death deals a severe blow to the operational capabilities and global financial networks of ISIS, heavily diminishing the organization’s overarching influence.
Primarily operating out of the volatile Sahel region, al-Minuki had long utilized local strongholds to plan attacks and target regional stability. Following his neutralization, Trump declared that the terrorist would no longer terrorize the people of Africa or orchestrate operations aimed at harming Americans. This mission marks the latest deadly engagement directed by the Trump administration against Islamic State militants in Nigeria, trailing a massive military strike launched late last year against insurgent camps located in the country’s northwestern territory. The Islamic State has yet to issue an official response regarding the commander’s death.
