U.S. and Nigerian Forces Collaborate to Eliminate ISIS Leader
On May 15, 2026, President Donald Trump announced the successful joint operation between U.S. and Nigerian troops that resulted in the death of Abu Bilal Al Minuki, identified as the world leader of ISIS and its second-in-command.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned, “Tonight, at my direction, our brave American and Nigerian troops perfectly executed a well-planned and highly complex mission to remove the world’s most active terrorists from the battlefield.” He emphasized that Al Minuki believed he could evade capture in Africa, but U.S. intelligence kept tracking his movements.
The President further stated, “He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa or assist in planning operations targeting Americans. His removal will significantly reduce ISIS’ global operations.” Trump also expressed gratitude towards the Nigerian government for their cooperation, ending with a patriotic note, “God bless America!”
Nigeria has been facing rampant violence due to various extremist groups, notably the Islamic State of West Africa and Boko Haram, which is a self-proclaimed jihadist organization. Al Minuki, a Nigerian national, had previously been designated as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” by President Biden in 2023.
In the past, Trump has criticized Nigeria for its failures in protecting Christians from violence inflicted by Islamic extremists. He had previously cut aid to the country and vowed to take strong action against Islamic terrorists, declaring that “all guns blazing” would be used to address these ongoing atrocities.
The president also authorized airstrikes on ISIS targets in northwestern Nigeria last Christmas, claiming multiple terrorists were killed, although specific numbers were not disclosed.
Earlier this April, the U.S. State Department had issued warnings regarding terrorism and crime in Nigeria, allowing non-emergency government personnel to leave the country.
Army Secretary Pete Hegseth shared his views on X, stating, “Back in November 2025, President Trump announced to the world that he would help protect Christians in Nigeria and directed the Department of the Army to prepare for action. We hunted down the top leader of ISIS, who had been killing Christians in Nigeria for months.” Hegseth praised the collaborative effort with Nigerian officials, highlighting that this operation successfully targeted Al Minuki, who was crucial in planning attacks and managing ISIS financial operations.
He added that the elimination of Al Minuki and his associates enhances the safety of Americans by decreasing ISIS’s capabilities to plan attacks, stressing, “Operations like last night demonstrate the extraordinary lethality, perseverance, and skill of the United States military, strengthened with willing partners.”
AFRICOM, the U.S. Africa Command, released a video highlighting the strike, indicating that the operation specifically targeted a substantial ISIS presence in northeastern Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of several key individuals, including Al Minuki.
“Last night’s operation targeted a significant presence of ISIS fighters and eliminated several key individuals, including Abu Bilal Al Minuki,” the command noted.
