United States and Nigeria eliminate ISIS second in command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in joint operation

Key facts

• United States (US) and Nigerian forces conducted a joint operation to eliminate Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second in command of the Islamic State (IS) globally.
• Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was a Sahel-based senior leader and a member of the General Directorate of Provinces, the administrative body of IS that provides operational guidance and funding.
• The US State Department had designated al-Minuki as a global terrorist and placed him under sanctions in 2023 for his ties to the IS group.
• The Nigerian government and US authorities previously collaborated on airstrikes in northwestern Sokoto State targeting Islamic State in the Sahel (ISSP) fighters.
• Washington has deployed hundreds of troops to Nigeria to provide support and training to local forces battling regional offshoots of the IS organisation and Boko Haram.