The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has released footage of a coordinated military operation in northeastern Nigeria, saying the mission led to the killing of senior Islamic State leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and other top ISIS figures.
In a statement on Saturday, AFRICOM said the strike was carried out on May 16, 2026, under the direction of the United States President and the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Government of Nigeria.
Multiple ISIS Leaders Killed In Operation
According to AFRICOM, initial assessments indicated that several terrorists were eliminated during the operation, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s director of global operations.
The command added that no United States service members were injured during the mission.
It said the operation targeted a “significant presence of ISIS fighters in Northeastern Nigeria,” describing it as a coordinated effort between Nigerian and American forces.
US Military Details Intelligence-Driven Strike
U.S. Air Force General Dagvin Anderson, commander of AFRICOM, said the mission reflected strong cooperation between both countries.
“As President Trump shared last night, AFRICOM, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, bravely and valiantly conducted a successful mission that resulted in the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, and multiple other ISIS leaders,” he said.
He added that the operation was the result of months of coordination and intelligence sharing between both militaries.
According to him, the partnership underscores a growing commitment to counterterrorism cooperation in the region.
Role Of The ISIS Commander
AFRICOM described al-Minuki as a key operational figure within ISIS, allegedly involved in strategic planning, media operations, weapons development, explosives production, drone manufacturing and hostage-taking coordination.
He was also said to play a central role in directing global ISIS-linked activities.
Tinubu Hails Joint Operation
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier described the mission as a “daring joint operation” that inflicted significant losses on ISIS networks operating in the Lake Chad Basin and surrounding areas.
The latest development adds to ongoing military efforts by Nigerian forces and international partners aimed at weakening insurgent groups in the North-East.
AFRICOM releases footage of Nigeria–US strike that killed ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuk pic.twitter.com/8Na2U1jzO8
— Temitope Hassan (@temihat) May 16, 2026