Trump says Islamic State ‘second in command’ killed by US and Nigerian forces
US president calls Abu-Bilal al-Minuki ‘most active terrorist in the world’ and says he was eliminated in ‘very complex mission’
TL;DR
- Donald Trump announced that US and Nigerian forces killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of ISIS.
- Trump described al-Minuki as the 'most active terrorist in the world' and stated the mission was complex and meticulously planned.
- Al-Minuki, a Nigerian national, was designated a 'specially designated global terrorist' by the Biden administration in 2023.
- The former president stated that al-Minuki's removal will prevent him from terrorizing Africa or planning operations against Americans.
- Trump thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership in the operation.
- Previous US strikes and deployments of drones and troops have supported the Nigerian military against ISIS and al Qaeda-linked insurgencies in West Africa.