U.S. and Nigerian military forces have once again targeted ISIS militants in Nigeria, as reported by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). This latest operation follows closely on the heels of an earlier mission that successfully neutralized a high-ranking ISIS leader.
According to AFRICOM, the recent joint strikes were executed on Monday with the approval of Nigeria’s government. While thorough evaluations of the mission’s outcomes are still underway, AFRICOM confirmed that no personnel from either the U.S. or Nigerian forces were injured during the operation.
“Eliminating these terrorists reduces the organization’s ability to orchestrate attacks that compromise the safety and security of the U.S. and our allied nations,” stated AFRICOM.
This military action took place after former President Donald Trump announced that U.S. and Nigerian forces had eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, who was identified as ISIS’s global second-in-command, late last Friday.
AFRICOM reported that the joint forces struck ISIS targets in northeastern Nigeria on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
In a message on Truth Social, Trump remarked, “Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s second-in-command, believed he could find sanctuary in Africa, but he underestimated our intelligence sources. He will no longer be able to terrorize African communities or plot against Americans.”
AFRICOM said no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed during operation on Sunday, May 17, 2026. (X / U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM))
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed Saturday that U.S. forces, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, killed al-Minuki and other ISIS leaders.
“So, for months, we hunted this top ISIS leader in Nigeria who was killing Christians, and we killed him — and his entire posse,” Hegseth wrote.
The U.S. military carried out ten strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria following a December ambush that killed U.S. troops. (CENTCOM)
The announcement also comes after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out multiple strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria in February as part of a joint military effort to “sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network.”
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