According to Donald Trump, US troops, alongside Nigerian forces, have "removed from the battlefield" the deputy leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), Abu Bilal al-Minuki. Trump made the statement on his platform Truth Social, referring to al-Minuki as the "most active terrorist in the world."
Trump emphasized that al-Minuki would no longer be able to terrorize people in Africa or plan attacks against Americans. Although Trump did not explicitly confirm that the ISIS commander was killed, his wording suggests as much.
The elimination of al-Minuki could significantly weaken ISIS's operational capabilities worldwide. Trump thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, indicating that the military operation took place in Nigeria. Several terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and ISIS affiliates, are active in northern Nigeria.
The US military had already targeted ISIS positions in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day, killing several suspected ISIS fighters. Trump justified these attacks by citing the killing of "innocent Christians" in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa.
