Donald Trump said a senior member of the Islamic State had been killed in Nigeria during a joint operation involving U.S. forces and the Nigerian military. In a statement, Trump said the operation was carried out on his orders and in coordination with both sides, with the aim of eliminating what he described as “the world’s most dangerous terrorists.” He identified the militant as Abu Bilal al-Minuki and described him as the second-highest-ranking ISIS figure globally. Trump said the individual had been hiding in Africa and had played a role in planning attacks against civilians and Americans. However, there has so far been no independent confirmation from U.S. security agencies or the Nigerian government regarding the identity of the person killed or details of the operation. The Islamic State maintains a presence in parts of West and Central Africa, although reports concerning senior leadership figures typically require confirmation from multiple sources.
