Trump Says US Forces, Nigeria Military Killed ISIS Leader

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House on May 15.
Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg

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By Audrey Wan

May 16, 2026 at 4:06 AM UTC

Updated on

May 16, 2026 at 8:33 AM UTC

US and Nigerian forces killed an ISIS leader who was hiding in Africa, President Donald Trump said, adding that his death has “greatly diminished” the group’s global operations.

Trump said Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was second in command of ISIS globally and referred to him as the “most active terrorist in the world,” according to a post on Truth Social.