Published on 16/05/2026 - 8:45 GMT+2

US and Nigerian forces have successfully carried out an operation to eliminate an Islamic State leader, US President Donald Trump said.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, IS's second in command 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," he added.

Trump, who described al-Minuki as "the most active terrorist in the world," went on to thank the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the "meticulously planned and very complex mission," adding that Al-Minuki's death would have a major impact on IS's operations.

According to the Counter Extremism Project, Al-Minuki is believed to have become a commander for the group in western Africa in 2018, following the death of the previous regional leader Mamman Nur.

It said he has been described as a "hardline militant" and that he has been designated as a terrorist by the US since 2023.