U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced a new strike collaboration with Nigerian forces targeting ISIS militants in Nigeria. This operation follows a recent action that resulted in the death of a significant ISIS leader.
AFRICOM confirmed it conducted coordinated kinetic strikes with Nigeria’s government. The complete assessment of the operation is ongoing, and no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.
The removal of these terrorists diminishes the group’s capacity to plan attacks that threaten the safety and security of the U.S. and our partners.
This statement comes after President Donald Trump disclosed that U.S. and Nigerian forces eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, regarded as ISIS’s second-in-command globally.
On Sunday, May 17, 2026, AFRICOM reported another series of kinetic strikes on ISIS fighters in northeastern Nigeria.
Trump expressed his satisfaction with the successful operation against al-Minuki, mentioning that intelligence sources kept them informed of his whereabouts. “He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, confirmed the elimination of al-Minuki and other ISIS leaders, highlighting efforts over months to track them.
In a related context, the U.S. military conducted ten strikes targeting more than 30 ISIS locations in Syria, following a December ambush that claimed the lives of U.S. troops.
The announcement aligns with ongoing U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) strikes against ISIS targets in Syria earlier this year, aiming to maintain pressure on terrorist network remnants.
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