{"id":2603893,"date":"2026-05-18T09:24:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-military-hits-more-isis-targets-in-nigeria-after-eliminating-top-terror-leader\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:24:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:24:50","slug":"us-military-hits-more-isis-targets-in-nigeria-after-eliminating-top-terror-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-military-hits-more-isis-targets-in-nigeria-after-eliminating-top-terror-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"US Military Hits More ISIS Targets in Nigeria After Eliminating Top Terror Leader"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fus-military-hits-more-isis-targets-in-nigeria-after-eliminating-top-terror-leader%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2603893&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Two days after U.S. forces eliminated a senior Islamic State leader in Nigeria, the U.S. Africa Command says it carried out additional airstrikes against ISIS militants in northeastern Nigeria in coordination with the Nigerian government. AFRICOM reports that intelligence confirmed the targets were ISIS fighters, that assessments are ongoing, and that no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, President Donald Trump posted that a joint U.S. operation killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by Trump and the U.S. as a top ISIS figure. The Wall Street Journal reported the attacks killed about 20 ISIS militants near the northeastern village of Metele. U.S. officials say the operations are meant to reduce ISIS\u2019s ability to plan attacks and to help protect Christians in Nigeria, noting that the U.S. has been assisting Nigeria with intelligence,positioning,and targeted strikes.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Two days after U.S. forces eliminated a top Islamic State leader in Nigeria, a second attack took out Islamic State fighters as part of the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to protect Christians in Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Africa Command wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.africom.mil\/pressrelease\/36570\">news release<\/a> that \u201cin coordination with the Government of Nigeria, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >conducted additional kinetic strikes<\/a> against ISIS in Northeastern Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIntelligence confirmed the targets were ISIS militants. Complete assessments are ongoing. No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe removal of these terrorists diminishes the group\u2019s capacity to plan attacks that threaten the safety and security of the U.S. and our partners.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>AFRICOM released a<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/USAfricaCommand\/status\/2056271337828577495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> video of the attack<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AFRICOM?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AFRICOM<\/a>, in continued coordination with Nigeria, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/happy-new-year-pentagon-ends-2025-with-a-bang-hits-narco-terrorists-whose-drugs-will-not-kill-americans-this-year\/\" title=\"Happy New Year: Pentagon Ends 2025 with a Bang, Hits Narco-Terrorists Whose Drugs Will Not Kill Americans This Year\">conducted kinetic strikes<\/a> against ISIS fighters in NE Nigeria on May 17. No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.<\/p>\n<p>Full press release: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/7xuos8L1MK\">https:\/\/t.co\/7xuos8L1MK<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AFRICOM?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AFRICOM<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Nigeria?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Nigeria<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CounterTerrorism?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CounterTerrorism<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qK8pyky7od\">pic.twitter.com\/qK8pyky7od<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USAfricaCommand\/status\/2056271337828577495?\">May 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>On Friday, President Donald Trump posted on <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116582139808210458\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a>  that a joint U.S. attack killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, who Trump said was \u201csecond in command of ISIS globally.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>U.S. attacks killed about 20 Islamic State militants, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/africa\/u-s-forces-kill-about-20-islamic-state-fighters-in-nigeria-ad7b2bf4\">The Wall Street Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The attacks took place near the northeastern village of Metele.<\/p>\n<p data-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cTerrorists who threaten our citizens, communities and national stability will be located and defeated,\u201d Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, a Nigerian military spokesman, said. \u201cThere will be no safe haven for terrorists anywhere in Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-type=\"paragraph\">Last year, Trump said Nigeria was not doing enough to protect Christians. Since then, U.S. forces have been posted to Nigeria in order to assist its military and conduct targeted airstrikes against Muslim terrorists.<\/p>\n<p>The United Nations has estimated that 8,000 to 12,000 Islamic State fighters operate in western Africa.<\/p>\n<p>War Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PeteHegseth\/status\/2055597053598703994\">post<\/a> on X that the U.S. is putting teeth behind Trump\u2019s vow to protect Nigerian Christians.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBack in November 2025, President Trump declared to the world that we will help protect Christians in Nigeria and instructed the Department of War to prepare for action. So, for months, we hunted this top ISIS leader in Nigeria who was killing Christians, and we killed him\u2014and his entire posse,\u201d Hegseth wrote Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn conjunction with Nigeria\u2019s President, and at the direction of President Trump, U.S. Africa Command oversaw a precise operation to remove this terrorist. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was the senior ISIS General Directorate of Provinces Emir \u2014 the number two for ISIS globally \u2014 responsible for overseeing the planning of attacks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-and-nigeria-kill-isis-leader-who-terrorized-christians-in-africa\/\" title=\"US and ... kill ... leader who terrorized Christians in Africa\">directing hostage-taking<\/a> and managing financial operations,\u201d Hegseth continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe removal of him and other ISIS personnel makes Americans safer by further degrading ISIS\u2019s ability to plan and carry out attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, American citizens, and innocent civilians,\u201d Hegseth wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOperations like last night\u2019s demonstrate the exceptional lethality, patience and skill of U.S. forces, amplified alongside willing and capable partners, to address d threats. This should serve as a reminder that we will hunt down those who wish to harm Americans or innocent Christians, wherever they are.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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