U.S. and Nigerian forces conducted a joint operation last week on Lake Chad that resulted in the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, according to officials from both countries. The operation targeted an island on the lake, which lies at the junction of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

The three-hour assault was carried out by approximately two dozen commandos, including members of the elite U.S. SEAL Team 6. The troops were deployed via helicopter for the mission, which successfully eliminated al-Minuki without any reported casualties among U.S. or Nigerian forces.

President Donald Trump praised the outcome, stating that al-Minuki "will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans." The Nigerian government had previously mistakenly reported that al-Minuki had been killed in 2024, but officials from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s office confirmed his recent presence near Lake Chad and agreed with the decision to launch the strike at this time.

Following the raid, military analysts began reviewing information retrieved from laptops and cellphones seized during the operation. The data is expected to shed light on ISIS’s recruitment methods and operational plans across Africa, which have been a growing concern for regional governments and international partners.

The joint U.S.-Nigerian effort reflects increased collaboration in counterterrorism activities aimed at disrupting ISIS affiliates active in the Lake Chad basin, where Islamist militant groups continue to destabilize communities across multiple countries.