Islamic State senior leader killed in US–Nigerian military operation

US and Nigerian forces have killed a senior Islamic State leader in a joint military operation in northeastern Nigeria, US President Donald Trump announced on May 15th, as reported by France 24 with AP on May 16th.

The target, Abu-Bilal al-Mainuki, was killed in the Lake Chad Basin alongside several of his lieutenants during what Nigerian President Bola Tinubu described as a “daring joint operation” carried out by both countries’ armed forces. Trump said the mission was “meticulously planned” and targeted what he called the “most active terrorist in the world.”

Al-Mainuki was widely regarded as a senior figure within Islamic State, reportedly serving as its second-in-command globally and playing a central role in organising financing, communications, and attack planning. US officials had previously linked him to plots against American interests, and he was placed under sanctions in 2023.

Born in Nigeria’s Borno State in 1982, al-Mainuki rose through the ranks of Islamic State’s West African branch following the killing of its previous leader, Mamman Nur, in 2018. Security analysts say he operated across the Sahel region and is believed to have had experience fighting in Libya during earlier phases of the group’s expansion.

His death comes amid ongoing instability in northern Nigeria, where government forces continue to battle multiple armed groups, including factions aligned with Islamic State. The Lake Chad Basin has remained a focal point of insurgent activity for over a decade, driven by cross-border militancy and weak state control.

The United States has expanded its security cooperation with Nigeria in recent years, providing intelligence support, drones, and limited troop deployments as part of broader counterterrorism efforts in West Africa.

Officials from both countries have described the operation as a significant setback for Islamic State networks in the region, though analysts warn that militant groups in the Sahel have repeatedly shown resilience despite leadership losses.

France 24 with AP, Maghrebi.org