US Hails Nigeria Counterterrorism Efforts, Confirms Joint Operation Against ISIS Leader
The United States has praised Nigeria's counterterrorism efforts and confirmed a collaborative joint operation that eliminated senior ISIS leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, in the Lake Chad Basin. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed that American and Nigerian security agencies recently collaborated in an operation that eliminated the senior global ISIS leader alongside multiple lieutenants during an assault on his compound. President Donald Trump described the operation as eliminating "the most active terrorist in the world," calling al-Minuki "second command of ISIS globally" and emphasizing the strike dealt a blow to IS's networks in Africa and globally by disrupting their funding and command systems. Al-Minuki was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. in 2023 and played a key role in coordinating attacks across West Africa. He was killed during a strike on his compound […]
