Helicopter assault, ground raid: How US-Nigerian troops killed ISIS deputy Al-Minuki
A joint military operation involving the United States and Nigerian forces reportedly lasted more than three hours before Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, was killed in the Lake Chad region.
According to a report by The New York Times, Nigerian and American troops engaged ISIS fighters in an intense exchange of gunfire during the operation, which ended with the elimination of Al-Minuki.
The death of Al-Minuki was first announced by US President Donald Trump and later confirmed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday.
Trump described the mission as a “complex operation” carried out jointly by Nigerian and American troops.
Fresh details indicate the operation involved a helicopter-borne assault executed by about two dozen Nigerian and American special operations forces, including members of the elite Navy SEAL Team 6.
Citing unnamed US officials, The New York Times reported that the troops stormed Al-Minuki’s hideout alongside about three dozen fighters on two small islands in Lake Chad.
Lake Chad lies at the border region connecting Nigeria, the Republic of Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, countries that have all faced prolonged jihadist insurgencies.
Although the initial objective was reportedly to capture Al-Minuki alive, US forces later launched an airstrike after it became clear he would not surrender, fearing he could escape. The strike targeted his base within the Lake Chad Basin.
Security officials also reportedly recovered mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices from the scene. Intelligence analysts are now reviewing the materials for information related to ISIS recruitment networks, finances, and operational activities across Africa and beyond.
No casualties were reported among Nigerian or American troops during the operation.
President Tinubu stated that several senior ISIS operatives linked to Al-Minuki were also killed, adding that more “decisive strikes” against terrorist groups are expected.
In 2023, the United States designated Al-Minuki as a specially designated global terrorist. Before his death, he reportedly played major roles in ISIS operations, including international funding coordination and strategic communications.
