President Donald Trump reveals an Islamic State Group leader was killed after approving a joint U.S. and Nigerian operation attacking ISIS. The mission eliminated the “most active terrorist,” Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. He is said to be second in command of the Islamic State.
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The leader’s killing took place on Friday (May 15) after a helicopter attack by troops from both the United States and Nigeria. On Saturday (May 16), U.S. officials said nearly two dozen Nigerian and American Special Operations commandos, including members of the Navy’s SEAL Team 6, carried out the mission.
The commandos attacked the ISIS leader and about three dozen fighters on two small islands in Lake Chad. The lake sits at the intersection of four countries, including Nigeria.
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was deemed a terrorist and one of the Islamic State’s leaders by the State Department in 2023. According to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, he was a Nigerian citizen. The agency also had him sanctioned.
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While taking to Truth Social on Friday (May 15), Trump wrote:
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing. He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans. With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished. Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation. GOD BLESS AMERICA! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
After the White House account reposted POTUS’ message, he added, “No games!!! Watch what’s next on your favorite subject! President DJT.”
Elsewhere, United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, wrote on X:
“Last night U.S. forces, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and other ISIS leaders. Back in November 2025, President Trump declared to the world that we will help protect Christians in Nigeria and instructed the Department of War to prepare for action. So, for months, we hunted this top ISIS leader in Nigeria who was killing Christians, and we killed him-and his entire posse.
In conjunction with Nigeria’s President, and at the direction of President Trump, U.S. Africa Command oversaw a precise operation to remove this terrorist. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was the senior ISIS General Directorate of Provinces Emir — the number two for ISIS globally — responsible for overseeing the planning of attacks, directing hostage-taking and managing financial operations. The removal of him and other ISIS personnel makes Americans safer by further degrading ISIS’s ability to plan and carry out attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, American citizens, and innocent civilians.
Operations like last night’s demonstrate the exceptional lethality, patience and skill of U.S. forces, amplified alongside willing and capable partners, to address shared threats. This should serve as a reminder that we will hunt down those who wish to harm Americans or innocent Christians, wherever they are.”
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