US President Donald Trump has claimed that Abu Bilal al-Munawki was killed in a joint military operation carried out by US and Nigerian forces. He shared this statement on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump said Abu Bilal al-Munawki died during a complex and secret operation conducted under his direction. He added that the mission targeted a key ISIS leader who played a major role in the group’s global network.
According to Trump, Abu Bilal al-Munawki held the position of the second most important commander in ISIS at the global level. He said the operation dealt a serious blow to the organization’s international structure.
The US President also said Abu Bilal al-Munawki believed he was safe while hiding in Africa, but US intelligence agencies kept tracking his movements closely. This led to the successful strike with Nigerian cooperation.
Abu Bilal al-Munawki was earlier designated as a global terrorist by the US State Department in 2023 due to his role in ISIS operations and financial coordination across regions.
Nigeria has been actively fighting extremist groups, including ISIS-linked networks and Boko Haram, for several years. Security forces continue operations as attacks remain a serious challenge in different parts of the country.
US officials have also supported Nigerian forces through training and assistance programs to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
However, details about the exact location and method of the operation that killed Abu Bilal al-Munawki have not yet been officially confirmed.