The United States military and its Nigerian counterparts exchanged fire with ISIS terrorists for over three hours before successfully eliminating Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of the jihadist militant group, according to the New York Times.
Al-Minuki’s death was announced by US President Donald Trump and was confirmed by President Bola Tinubu on Saturday morning.
Trump said Al-Minuki was killed in a “complex mission” carried out by Nigerian and American troops.
Details of the operation are now beginning to emerge.
The New York Times reports that Al-Minuki was killed in a helicopter-borne assault carried out by about two dozen Nigerian and American special operations commandos, which included members of the Navy’s SEAL Team 6.
Citing three US officials, the publication said the commandos attacked Al-Minuki and about three dozen fighters on two small islands in Lake Chad.
Lake Chad sits at the intersection of Nigeria, the Republic of Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. All four countries are battling a jihadist insurgency.
The officials said the US military initially sought to capture al-Minuki but killed him in an airstrike when it became clear he would not surrender, rather than risk letting him escape. The strikes reportedly targeted his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
They said analysts are now examining the cell phones, laptop computers and other electronic records recovered from the operation for information on the recruitment, operational and financial activities of ISIS branches in Africa and elsewhere in the world.
No American or Nigerian military casualties were reported.
According to the New York Times, the officials all spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters.
Tinubu said “several lieutenants” of the ISIS second-in-command were also killed in the mission.
The president said he expects more “decisive strikes”.
In 2023, the US tagged al-Minuki as a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT). Before his death, the jihadist fighter held top roles in the militant organisations, spanning roles that coordinated international financing and strategic communications.
