The US military, “in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” killed Abu Bilal al Minuki and several other senior Islamic State leaders in an operation in northeastern Nigeria. President Trump and US Africa Command described Minuki as the Islamic State’s second in command and director of global operations.
President Donald Trump announced that US forces struck Islamic State targets in northwestern Nigeria on December 25 after the Nigerian government reportedly requested military action from the United States. The strikes took place in Sokoto State, which borders Niger and has been one of the scenes of jihadist expansion from the Sahel into Nigeria.
The Iraqi National Intelligence Service made a surprising announcement yesterday that it busted an Islamic State financial network spanning three countries in West Africa. The network was helping to fund Islamic State activities in Iraq, as well as attack planning in Europe.
Over the last month, the jihadist group has killed at least 174 Nigerien soldiers in three separate attacks.
The jihadist group also claimed an assault on a high-security prison near the capital of Niamey.
The Islamic State’s West African province has gone on a recent spate of assaults on military bases in northeastern Nigeria.