Donald Trump has announced that Abu-Bilal al Minuki, described as “second in command of Isis globally” and “the most active terrorist in the world,” has been “eliminated” in Africa through a joint operation by US and Nigerian forces. Trump stated on Truth Social that with al Minuki’s removal, Isis’s global operations are “greatly diminished.” Al Minuki, a 44-year-old Nigerian, had reportedly held a regional commander position within Isis since 2018 and was known as a hardline militant.
This joint operation follows US strikes on alleged Islamist bases in northwestern Nigeria last Christmas Day, which came after Trump’s accusations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, a claim denied by the African nation’s government.
Further details emerged, identifying the target as Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, a top leader of the Islamic State group in Nigeria. Trump’s social media post indicated the mission occurred in the early hours of Saturday. Nigerian authorities confirmed the operation in the Lake Chad Basin, a stronghold for Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as a result of a new partnership with the U.S. government. Al-Mainuki, born in 1982 in Borno, Nigeria, was a ‘specially designated global terrorist’ and a key commander of ISWAP after its split from Boko Haram. He was also a deputy to the late ISWAP leader Abu Musab al-Barnawi. A Nigerian military spokesperson suggested recent intelligence indicated he might have been appointed “Head of the General Directorate of States,” making him second-in-command within the global IS hierarchy, a claim echoed by Trump but disputed by some analysts.
Meanwhile, the news also highlighted ongoing tensions with Iran. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi expressed skepticism regarding American intentions, stating that contradictory messages from the Trump administration “made us reluctant about the real intentions of Americans” and that they “are in doubt about their seriousness.” Donald Trump, on his part, claimed to have discarded Iran’s peace proposal after deeming its first sentence “unacceptable,” signaling a stalemate in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Trump also stated that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear arms.
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