Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had successfully carried out a major counterterrorism operation targeting what he described as one of the world’s most active terrorist leaders. According to statements released following the mission, the operation resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, a senior figure linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province network operating in the volatile Lake Chad Basin region. Trump characterized the strike as a decisive victory against ISIS-linked extremism and praised the coordination between American and Nigerian forces.

Officials familiar with the mission stated that the joint operation was the result of months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and cooperation between U.S. military personnel and Nigerian security agencies. The strike reportedly eliminated Mainuki along with several key associates while avoiding casualties among allied forces. Nigerian authorities described the operation as a significant achievement in ongoing efforts to weaken extremist activity across parts of West Africa that have faced years of violence and instability.