US and Nigerian forces have killed Abu Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of the Islamic State group, in a joint operation in a remote village in northeastern Nigeria.
Al-Minuki, a Nigerian from Borno State, was placed under US sanctions in 2023 as a specially designated global terrorist. He led the jihadist Boko Haram group before pledging allegiance to IS in 2015 and oversaw operations across the Sahel and West Africa.
The operation was described as a meticulously planned air-land assault with no American boots on the ground. The US provided intelligence, satellite photos, and surveillance assets. An intelligence source said al-Minuki was tracked through his satellite phone, using five different numbers, and was killed in Metele along with 17 other militants, including three drone instructors from Maghreb and nine women.
President Donald Trump celebrated the killing, saying al-Minuki will no longer terrorize Africa or target Americans. Security experts call it a significant tactical success but warn that sustained intelligence-led operations are needed to limit the group's resources and recruitment.
An intelligence source cautioned that ISWAP may escalate attacks against Nigerian military bases to avenge al-Minuki's death. The US has made profound changes to its counter-terrorism strategy, shifting toward partnerships with African countries rather than maintaining a large military presence in the region.
