AFRICOM releases footage of airstrike that killed ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in North-East Nigeria

The U.S. designated Mr al-Minuki a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on June 8, 2023.

Ahmed Oluwasanjo • May 16, 2026

U.S. Africa Command (Credit: AFRICOM)

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has released a video of the airstrikes in which ISIS top commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and other members of his group were killed.

“Last night’s operation targeted a significant presence of ISIS fighters in Northeastern Nigeria eliminating multiple high value individuals including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki,” AFRICOM said, posting a video of the airstrike on X on Saturday.

AFRICOM also released a statement stating that “At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with the Government of Nigeria, U.S. Africa Command conducted an operation against ISIS in Northeastern Nigeria on May 16, 2026.”

“The command’s initial assessment is that multiple terrorists, to include Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the director of global operations for ISIS, as well as other senior ISIS leaders, were killed during this operation. No U.S. service members were harmed,” AFRICOM said.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said: “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 added: “This operation underscores the exceptional value of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership and was made possible through the cooperation and coordination of our forces in recent months. Make no mistake, our two nations will relentlessly pursue and neutralize terrorist threats and are committed to protecting our people and interests.”

On Friday, Mr Trump had announced that the U.S. military, in collaboration with Nigerian forces, eliminated Mr al-Mainuki.

Mr al-Mainuki, 44, is a Nigerian born in Mainok, Benisheikh, Borno State, Nigeria’s years-long insurgency battleground. The U.S. authorities designated Mr al-Minuki a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on June 8, 2023.

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday commended the United States of America and the Nigerian security forces for the operation.

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