U.S. President Donald J. Trump stated that U.S. forces, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, carried out what he described as a “meticulously planned and very complex mission” targeting a senior ISIS leader in Africa.
In his statement, Donald Trump said American forces and Nigerian troops “flawlessly executed” the operation, which he claimed resulted in the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s second-in-command globally.
Trump said the individual had been hiding in Africa. He further stated that intelligence sources had been tracking the target’s movements and operations prior to the strike.
According to Trump’s remarks, the removal of the figure would significantly weaken ISIS’s global operations.
Trump also thanked the Government of Nigeria for its cooperation in the operation, stating that the mission would not have been possible without the partnership between the two militaries.