President Trump Announces Joint U.S.-Nigeria Operation Kills Senior Islamic State Leader
President Trump announced that a joint operation between U.S. and Nigerian forces successfully targeted and killed Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, a top leader of the Islamic State group in Nigeria. The operation took place in the Lake Chad Basin, a region known for its insurgency activities by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Al-Mainuki, designated as a global terrorist by the U.S. Department of State, was a key figure in ISWAP's operations, handling media, finances, and weapons development. This mission marks a significant step in U.S.-Nigeria military cooperation, which had been strained in recent years.