U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) today released compelling video footage of a precision airstrike that took place in northeastern Nigeria, resulting in the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. President Donald Trump characterized al-Minuki as the second-in-command of ISIS worldwide and the organization’s director for global operations.
The airstrike, carried out in collaboration with Nigerian forces, targeted al-Minuki’s compound located in the Lake Chad Basin region of Borno State. Preliminary evaluations indicate that he, along with several of his lieutenants, was neutralized, with no reported casualties for U.S. or Nigerian forces.
Trump labeled the operation as “meticulously planned and very complex” and hailed it as a “complete success,” commending the cooperative effort for delivering a significant blow to ISIS operations in Africa and elsewhere.
Thermal infrared footage released by AFRICOM depicts multiple large explosions illuminating structures in the targeted area as U.S. aircraft engaged with ISIS personnel. The video, taken from an aerial platform, showcases the ferocity of the strikes on what officials identified as a key militant compound.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acknowledged the operation in a statement, calling it a “daring joint operation” that substantially weakened ISIS activities in the Sahel and West Africa. Al-Minuki, who was also known as Abu-Mainok and hailed from Borno State, had been associated with notable attacks, including those linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). He was designated a U.S. “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” in 2023 for his role in coordinating funding, operations, and attacks throughout the region.
This airstrike represents a significant advancement in the evolving U.S.-Nigeria security partnership and follows prior U.S. initiatives against ISIS in Nigeria, such as the Christmas Day 2025 airstrikes in Sokoto State. Nigerian officials clarified that earlier reports of al-Minuki’s death in 2024 referred to a different individual using the same alias.
Experts believe that the removal of a senior operative like al-Minuki disrupts the operational framework of ISIS, affecting command hierarchies, funding streams, and the guidance provided to affiliate groups in Africa. Trump praised the mission as proof that terrorists can no longer find refuge in Africa.
The operation highlights the Trump administration’s sustained commitment to fostering counterterrorism partnerships in the region. Details regarding the ground assault or the total number of ISIS fighters killed have not yet been disclosed.
