US, Nigeria strike ISIS fighters again from the air after killing senior leader

U.S. and Nigerian forces launched different onslaught against ISIS fighters successful Nigeria, according to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), conscionable days aft they carried retired an cognition that killed a planetary ISIS leader.

AFRICOM said it conducted the further kinetic strikes against ISIS militants connected Monday successful coordination with Nigeria’s government. It said implicit assessments are ongoing, though noted that nary U.S. oregon Nigerian forces were harmed during the operation.

"The removal of these terrorists diminishes the group’s capableness to program attacks that endanger the information and information of the U.S. and our partners," AFRICOM said.

The strikes travel aft President Donald Trump announced precocious Friday that U.S. and Nigerian forces killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom helium described arsenic ISIS’s second-in-command globally.

ISIS TERROR LEADER AT LARGE AFTER US STRIKE KILLS TOP COMMANDER AMID RISING AFRICA THREAT: ANALYST

U.S. and Nigerian forces conducted kinetic strikes against ISIS fighters successful northeastern Nigeria connected Sunday, May 17, 2026, AFRICOM said. (X / U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM))

"Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, 2nd successful bid of ISIS globally, thought he could fell successful Africa, but small did helium cognize we had sources who kept america informed connected what helium was doing," Trump wrote successful a station connected Truth Social astatine the time. "He volition nary longer terrorize the radical of Africa, oregon assistance program operations to people Americans."

AFRICOM said nary U.S. oregon Nigerian forces were harmed during cognition connected Sunday, May 17, 2026. (X / U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM))

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed Saturday that U.S. forces, successful coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, killed al-Minuki and different ISIS leaders.

"So, for months, we hunted this apical ISIS person successful Nigeria who was sidesplitting Christians, and we killed him — and his full posse," Hegseth wrote.

The U.S. subject carried retired 10 strikes against much than 30 ISIS targets successful Syria pursuing a December ambush that killed U.S. troops. (CENTCOM)

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The announcement besides comes aft U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried retired aggregate strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria successful February arsenic portion of a associated subject effort to "sustain relentless subject unit connected remnants from the violent network."

Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz and Robert McGreevey contributed to this report.