Trump says U.S. & Nigerian forces have killed ISIS leader

President Trump announced Friday evening that U.S. and Nigerian military forces had killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a leader of the Islamic State group, in a "meticulously planned and very complex mission."

Mr. Trump described al-Minuki as the Islamic State's second-in-command globally and "the most active terrorist in the world." "He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

6"With his removal, ISIS's global operation is greatly diminished." The Nigerian president's office also confirmed the operation, and said that "early assessments confirm the elimination" of al-Minuki. "Several of his lieutenants" were also killed, the office said. The Nigerian president's office also confirmed the operation, and said that "early assessments confirm the elimination" of al-Minuki. "Several of his lieutenants" were also killed, the office said. 

The operation took place at al-Minuki's compound on Lake Chad Basin, the Nigerian president's office said. Nigeria's defense department described it as a "meticulously planned and highly coordinated counterterrorism operation." 

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5A native of Nigeria, al-Minuki was described by the U.S. State Department in 2023 as a leader of the Islamic State, or ISIS, in Africa's Sahel region. At the time, he served as a senior official in one of the Islamic State's General Directorate of Provinces offices, which "provide operational guidance and funding around the world," according to the State Department.